The Tour's Pyrenean centenary is very much in mind today on a stage that features the Portet d'Aspet and Ares passes 100 years on from their appearance in the race's first ever high mountains day.
Complementing these Tour stalwarts is the Port de Balès, a pass first opened up primarily for the race’s use in 2007. Sections of 11 per cent are certain to thin out the yellow jersey group and some of those riders dropped might find it hard to get back up to the contenders on the high-speed descent into Bagnères-de-Luchon.
-
Remco Evenepoel targets return on bike in February following training crash
'We're aiming for mid-April to really start competing again' says Belgian as he recovers from multiple fractures following dooring incident -
Where are they now? Team Sky's 2012 Tour de France-winning team
The key figures of the history-making British squad, over a decade on from their era-dawning victory -
The end of an era - What Patrick Lefevere's retirement means for pro cycling
'These are big shoes to fill' - admits new Soudal-QuickStep CEO Jurgen Foré -
'I think that he can still improve a little bit' - Tadej Pogačar's coach to increase Slovenian's strength and intensity training for 2025
UAE Team Emirates coaches Javier Sola and Jeroen Swart on how they power and nutrition have changed the sport and Pogačar's preparation
