Tour 2015: Stage 11 Pau > Cauterets
STAGE FACT
No Tour stage has finished at Cauterets since 1995: French housewives’ favourite Richard Virenque took the glory, but his victory was overshadowed by the death of Fabio Casartelli after he fell on the nearby Col de Portet d’Aspet.
No Tour stage has finished at Cauterets since 1995: French housewives’ favourite Richard Virenque took the glory, but his victory was overshadowed by the death of Fabio Casartelli after he fell on the nearby Col de Portet d’Aspet.
The third-category finishing climb of the Côte de Cauterets is hardly the toughest obstacle of this year’s race, but coming after 5 other climbs including the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet, its 10% sections over 6.4 km are likely to make plenty of legs sting.
A stage of two halves
With two third and one fourth-category climb in its opening 100 kilometres, the first half of stage #11 wouldn’t look out of place as the medium distance route of your local club’s annual cyclo-sportive. But the action will surely get as heated as mid-July blacktop as the renowned Aspin and Tourmalet mountain passes are tackled in quick succession. Riders will pass through the La Mongie ski station on the ascent of the latter, scene of 3 Tour stage finishes that were won by riders with links to doping: Bernard Thévenet, Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso.
With two third and one fourth-category climb in its opening 100 kilometres, the first half of stage #11 wouldn’t look out of place as the medium distance route of your local club’s annual cyclo-sportive. But the action will surely get as heated as mid-July blacktop as the renowned Aspin and Tourmalet mountain passes are tackled in quick succession. Riders will pass through the La Mongie ski station on the ascent of the latter, scene of 3 Tour stage finishes that were won by riders with links to doping: Bernard Thévenet, Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso.
Cool runnings
Cauterets’s main annual sporting event takes place less than two weeks before the Tour’s visit. The Trophée du Grand Vignemale is the town’s version of the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross, even if its 2,717 metres of vertical ascent is far more than that of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough combined. Runners frequently have to deal with snow at the top of the main mountain, the Vignemale Pique Longue, and its descent is that steep in places that ropes are used to assist participants.
Cauterets’s main annual sporting event takes place less than two weeks before the Tour’s visit. The Trophée du Grand Vignemale is the town’s version of the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross, even if its 2,717 metres of vertical ascent is far more than that of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough combined. Runners frequently have to deal with snow at the top of the main mountain, the Vignemale Pique Longue, and its descent is that steep in places that ropes are used to assist participants.
Foodie heaven
If you like rich food, then the area’s local delicacies will be for you. Black Bigorre pork with beans, foie gras stuffed apples and truffle bread (known locally as tastou) are popular dishes in the area. Given what awaits on stage #12, it’s unlikely the Team Sky chef Søren Kristiansen will be serving this for dinner.
If you like rich food, then the area’s local delicacies will be for you. Black Bigorre pork with beans, foie gras stuffed apples and truffle bread (known locally as tastou) are popular dishes in the area. Given what awaits on stage #12, it’s unlikely the Team Sky chef Søren Kristiansen will be serving this for dinner.
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