When: Monday, July 23
Where: Foix-Loudenville
Length: 196km

DESCRIPTION
There are mountains in every direction, we are in the heart of the Pyrenees. It’s going to be a horrible day for the riders, with five classified climbs.

Things get interesting in the final 50km, with the Port de Bales climb, paved especially for the race. The last 10km are close to nine per cent. More hell awaits down the other side, in the form of the first-category Col de Peyresourde. The final 12km are downhill to Loudenville, but by now the damage has been done.

If anyone needs mountain points, then this is where they will be looking to win them. Mountain stages this late in the race are often won by climbers who are well down in the overall classification.

CW STAGE RATING
Scenery: 10/10
Difficulty: 10/10
Impact on overall: 10/10

ROUTE DETAILS
Km, Location, ETA, Feature
0, FOIX, 11:15, START
27.5, Col de Port, 12:24, Climb cat 2
68, Saint Girons, 13:23, Sprint
85.5, Aucazein, 13:54, Feed zone
98.5, Col de Portet d’Aspet, 14:22, Climb cat 2
114, Col de Mentee, 14:53, Climb cat 1
127, Marignac, 15:08, Sprint
159.5, Port de Bals, 16:16, Climb hors-category
184.5, Col de Peyresourde, 16:58, Climb cat 1
196, LOUDENVIELLE-LE-LOURON, 17:11, FINISH

TOUR DE FRANCE 2007: GUIDE
Route guide
Complete start list
Guide to all 21 teams
Tour 2007 videos
ITV and Eurosport Tour TV listings