Stage 16 Preview - This is enormous.

 

 

Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau, 196 km

This stage crosses all four of the famous passes in the Pyrenees - the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque - before going down hill for a flat finish in Pau.  There is over 70km of climbing and 4500m of altitude.  Wow.  Of course the tour is paying homage to the 100th anniversary of 'high' mountains in the tour. This stage also pays homage to one of the greatest exploits in Tour history. In 1969, on a stage that crossed the same four passes as today's, race leader Eddy Merckx launched a solo attack at the foot of the Aubisque and rode away to the finish in Mourenx, just west of Pau, arriving almost eight minutes clear of his rivals.

 Climbs:

• Km 11.0 - Col de Peyresourde - 11.0 km climb to 7.4 % - Category 1
• Km 42.5 - Col d'Aspin - 12.3 km climb to 6.3 % - Category 1
• Km 72.0 - Col du Tourmalet (Souvenir Jacques Goddet) - 17.1 km climb to 7.3 % - Category H
• Km 138.0 - Col d'Aubisque - 29.2 km climb to 4.2 % - Category H

Well now this is a tough tough stage.  After two hectic days int he Pyrenees the riders face an enormous task over three huge climbs.   One of the most Mythical of TdF climbs, the Tormalet features and the riders should have a good look on the downhill, because they will ride back up it (from the opposite - harder - direction) tomorrow. expect a breakaway with big names - huge KOM points on offer, it is the kind of day that can win you that title.  It is also the last day for those big names like Armstong, Basso, Wiggins, Sastre, Cunego that are well down in the classification to drag them selves back as stage 17 with a summit finish will favour the leaders.  No doubt a fired up Schleck will look to take his revenge - but the final climb on the Aubisque although lone at almost 30km is only at anaverage 4.2% although the final 3km is at 7%.  I think no change in the top 5 of the GC, but attacks from those well down trying to get a respectable finish may result in a few changes there.