It doesn't come much tougher than this - one Hors Categorie, four cat 1 cols and one cat 2 climb that adds up to 54km of climbing and an average gradient of 7.96% - that also adds up to plenty of pain! Riders will pass the monument to Fabio Casartelli, killed on the Col du Portet d'Aspet in 1995, where the peloton will most likely slow down to pay its respects as it rides past. It's then on to the Col de Mente, Portillon, Peyresourde, Val-Louron Azet before finishing up Lat-d'Adet in St-Lary - Soulan. The climbs are evenly spaced out, and it's pretty clear to see what everyone is in for - plenty of mountains that don't necessarily reach great heights, but do so very quickly.
Stage 15 will probably serve as the ultimate selection day, and look for Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, and maybe Rasmussen to fight it out for the stage and GC honours.
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Defending champions Matt Beers and Sofia Gomez Villafañe dominate at Belgian Waffle Ride California
'Matt Beers was the cat and I was his ball of yarn' reflects men's runner up Peter Stetina -
UCI Gravel World Series - Crystal Anthony and Skyler Taylor win Highlands Gravel Classic
Runner-up spots claimed by Jenna Rinehart and Tim McBirney in first of two American qualifying events -
‘The last kilometre was just a little too much’ - Lotte Kopecky takes fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège after dropping on Roche-aux-Faucons climb
'I think it is a race that I can win in the future but just not this year' says world champion who now turns attention to Tour de France Femmes -
Tour of the Gila: Galen Bolard and Eric Brunner win stage 4 bunch sprint
Lauren Stephens and Keiran Haug retain race lead after penultimate stage
