Tour de France 2017 Route stage 13: Saint Girons

Tour de France 2017 Route stage 13: Saint Girons – Foix

Friday, 14 July 2017 - Stage 13 in the Tour de France brings an explosive 101 kilometres race through the Pyrenees. After cresting three cols the riders plunge down at full speed to finish in Foix.

The 14th of July is Bastille Day, so we should expect a lot of French riders to go on the attack. Actually, we can expect a lot of attacks overall, as this is usually the case in such short stages. The riders will definitely need their climbing legs, and a proper warming up as the race will explode from the start.

The first climb is Col de Latrape, which is 5.6 kilometres at 7.3%. Around halfway, the riders stumble upon the steepest sector at 10.6%. The pass was also in the 2011 Tour de France when Sandy Casar was first to crested.

When the riders hit the valley after a 5 kilometres drop it goes back up again. Col d’Agnes is a 10 kilometres drag at 8% with steepest sections of more than 10% right at the base of the climb. So that is quite some welcome. Kilometre 8 is easiest with an average slope of ‘merely’ 4.9%. That’s a short relief though as the road continues in familiar fashion – steep.

The Col d’Agnes was in the 2011 Tour de France, too. At 1,570 metres altitude, Sylvain Chavanel took most KOM points.

The best is saved for last as the third climb, Mur de Péguère, is a killer. At 9.3 kilometres, the average percentage of 7.9% may look fairly doable, yet is is the build-up that will do the damage here. The first six kilometres go up steadily, but then all hell breaks loose with one kilometre of 13% on average and a steepest sector at 18%. What comes next is hardly any better and it’s only at the top that the riders will be out of their misery.

After cresting the 1,375 metres peak a 27 kilometres long descent takes them 1,000 metres down to the finish line in Foix. It’s the third time the Tour de France will finish in this Pyrenees village. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (2008) and Luis León Sánchez (2012) were the previous winners. In fact, the finale in 2012 was played out virtually the same route as today. Sánchez attacked shortly before cresting the Mur de Péguère and he held off the chasers until the finish line in Foix.

The first three riders on the line take time bonuses at 10, 6 and 4 seconds.