The Tour de France makes its obligatory annual visit to Pau for the start of the stage 14, another difficult day in the high mountains. Four classified climbs dominate the final 100 kilometres of the 182.6km adventure from Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères, with 4,950 metres of elevation gain, only second for a heavy load of climbing to stage 18’s queen stage next week.
Stage 14 replicates the 1986 route where a showdown between Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault unfolded on that race’s stage 13. LeMond dominated that day’s stage, soundly defeating race leader Hinault, which led to the US rider taking overall victory.
The heights of the Pyrenees still loom large in the distance as the opening 70km roll slightly uphill to the only intermediate sprint of the day, Esquieze-Sère. From there, riders are directly on the ramp to the fearsome Col du Tourmalet (19km at 7.4%), making its 89th appearance in the Tour. The ascent to the Tourmalet uses the direction from Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the least travelled by the Tour.
The first rider across the summit of this hors categorie climb will receive the Souvenir Jacques Goddet, which has been a near-annual tradition since 2001. It will also mark the first of four ascents at this year’s race to reach 2,000 metres above sea level.
The nearly 17km descent through La Mongie and Sainte-Marie-de-Campin leads to back-to-back ascents of Col d’Aspin (5km at 7.6%) and Col de Peyresourde (7.1km at 7.8%). Passing through Bagnères-de-Luchon, a thermal spa town at the confluence of L’One and Pique rivers, riders then rush towards the ski resort at Superbagnères (12.4km at 7.3%).
With two mountain stages already causing legs to burn, the gradient to the mountaintop finish bumps up to 10% in the final 1,500 metres. Not only a prestigious win awaits, but bonus points for the top three.
Last year Col du Tourmalet featured in stage 14’s mid-stage battle to Pla d’Adet, where Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) rode solo ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) for the stage win. Like last year, Pogačar rides the stage in yellow with Vingegaard chasing in second.
The parade of categorised ascents will not only uncover riders suffering in the second week of racing, but provide a playground for attacks for contenders to prove themselves against one of the best climbers, and current race leader.
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Stage 14 profile(Image credit: A.S.O.)
Stage 15 map(Image credit: Geoatlast)
Stage 14 Sprints
Esquièze-Sère, km. 70.1
Stage 14 Mountains
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Col du Tourmalet profile(Image credit: A.S.O.)
Superbagneres profile(Image credit: A.S.O.)
Col du Tourmalet (HC), km. 89.5 – Souvenir Jacques Goddet
