All the stage information you need, including why it matters, which riders to watch, and who to root for.
Stage 10: Tarbes to la Pierre-Saint-Martin, Tuesday, July 14, 167km
After the Tour’s first rest day on Monday, the race enters the Pyrenees with the introduction of a new climb, the hors categorie (above category) ascent of la Pierre-Saint-Martin. After starting the day in Tarbes, the race arcs to the west, covering three Category 4 climbs along the way. The final climb begins gently in Arrete, 24km from the finish, but the official start of the hors categorie ascent to the summit starts with 15km to go. The first 10km are the steepest, with pitches averaging close to 10 percent. The climb gets gentler with 5km to go but steepens again in the final ramp to the line.
Why It Matters
The stage after a rest day is always a tough one as riders struggle to regain their racing legs after a day of active rest. Throw in the first major climb of the Tour, and there’s potential for disaster. Expect at least one of the pre-race contenders to have a jour sans (a polite, french way of saying a bad day) while the real favourites for this year’s Tour begin to emerge. It is also Bastille Day, France’s Independence Day, so the roads will be packed with fans, and French riders will be extra eager to please them with a mountain stage victory.
Who to Watch
In each of the last three Tours de France, the rider who went on to win the Tour put his stamp on the race with a dominating performance on the Tour’s first summit finish. In two of those Tours, Chris Froome won the stage. Look for Team Sky to set a searing pace on the lower slopes of la Pierre-Saint-Martin to set up Froome for an attack. This stage also could be ideal for Movistar’s tiny Colombian climber, Nairo Quintana, who possesses an uphill acceleration few can match. And don’t forget BMC’s Tejay van Garderen. Tuesday will go a long way toward determining whether or not he’s a true threat to Froome’s yellow jersey. Beyond the main GC contenders, watch for French climbers like Ag2r La Mondiale’s Romain Bardet or FDJ’s Thibaut Pinot to try and ignite some fireworks of their own. A Bastille Day victory on the Tour’s first summit finish would be a dream come true for either Frenchman..
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