Saturday's 182.6km route from Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères replicates 1986 battle between LeMond and Hinault
Riders in the peloton ascent the Col du Tourmalet in the middle of stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de France(Image credit: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
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.
Image 1 of 2
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
Image 1 of 2
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
A VPN will unblock your usual streams while abroad so you don't miss a minute. NordVPN is the best, say TechRadar, and right now Cyclingnews readers can save over 70% on a two-year plan, get an extra four months thrown in for free, plus up to $50/£50 in Amazon gift cards.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Team battling through injuries and illness during the spring and face Tour de France selection dilemma with leaders Max Poole and Pavel Bittner unlikely to be fit
