Tour de France 2014: Stage 17 - A tough day in the Pyrenees

Wednesday July 23rd, 2014 - The riders face three category-1 climbs today before a summit finish atop Pla d'Adet, an hors catégorie climb. A lot of today's route featured in the 2013 stage won by Daniel Martin where Froome was left isolated after Sky were attacked repeatedly. (Slideshow route/profile)

The climbing is opened with an innocent and uncategorised climb after 40 kilometres. It actually is in the run-up to the foot of the Col du Portillon, a 8.6 km climb at 7.1%. The steepest stretch of 8.3% is 3 kilometres below the summit, but there are not too many changes for the least steep portion is 5.4%.

In the sixties of the last century the Col du Portillon was popular with six inclusions in the Tour. The summit at 1,292 meters marks the border between France and Spain and is crested after 57.5 kilometres.

Col de Peyresourde
The Col de Peyresourde was first climbed in 1910 and last year for the last time. This was a stage where teams attacked Froome from all sides and while Sky suffered, their captain hung in there, finishing with the other favourites. Daniel Martin went on to be the victor that day.

Riders go up the Peyresourde from Luchon (east side), meaning a 13.2 kilometre ascent at 7%. The last kilometre is 9.8% until the riders finally get the respite of the descent.

Col de Val-Louron Azet
The Col d’Azet is short but is the steepest climb of the day. 7.4 kilometres long at 8.3% with a max of 13.6% means this is a nasty little number. It also featured in the aforementioned manic stage last year.

(Montée Saint-Lary) Pla d’Adet
The climb to Pla d’Adet is 10.2 kilometres long at 8.3%. The first 7 kilometers are by far the worst, with an average gradient of 9.5%. This is followed by 1 kilometre at 5%, then back up to 7% and – at last – the final 500 metres are flattening somewhat.