When: Wednesday, July 25
Where: Orthez-Gourette
Length: 218.5km

DESCRIPTION
Orthez lies 73 metres above sea level, but the Tour is going to head back up the mountains for one last day.

The first climb – the Col de Larrau – is reputed to be the hardest single ascent in the entire Tour route. Once the race goes to pieces on this climb, there will be no recovery until the finish. The final climb to the Col d’Aubisque is 16.4km long.

Although the previous day’s rest will have freshened the legs – if not the mind after the Vinokourov doping scandal – for most riders it will be a case of surviving this final mountain stage. If more than one rider is there to contest the finish, it will be a surprise.

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

ROUTE DETAILS
Km, Location, ETA, Feature
0, ORTHEZ, 10:40, START
36, Mauleon Licharre, 11:44, Sprint
48.5, Tardets-Sorholus, 12:05, Feed zone
79, Port de Larrau, 13:11, Climb hors-category
93, Alto Laza, 13:28, Climb cat 3
131, Col de la Pierre St Martin, 14:46, Climb cat 1
156, Arette, 15:14, Feed zone
180.5, Col de Marie Blanque, 16:04, Climb cat 1
200, Laruns, 16:24, Sprint
218.5, COL D’AUBISQUE, 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