It doesn't come much tougher than this - one Hors Categorie, four cat 1 cols and one cat 2 climb that adds up to 54km of climbing and an average gradient of 7.96% - that also adds up to plenty of pain! Riders will pass the monument to Fabio Casartelli, killed on the Col du Portet d'Aspet in 1995, where the peloton will most likely slow down to pay its respects as it rides past. It's then on to the Col de Mente, Portillon, Peyresourde, Val-Louron Azet before finishing up Lat-d'Adet in St-Lary - Soulan. The climbs are evenly spaced out, and it's pretty clear to see what everyone is in for - plenty of mountains that don't necessarily reach great heights, but do so very quickly.
Stage 15 will probably serve as the ultimate selection day, and look for Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, and maybe Rasmussen to fight it out for the stage and GC honours.
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Eneco Tour integrates women's and men's races, alternating starts in prologue
Route to be fully on local circuits -
Tour of Slovakia: Paul Magnier wins again by country mile on stage 2
French sprinter extends race lead -
Tour de Gatineau: Steffi Häberlin wins breakaway sprint, building confidence ahead of Worlds
Georgia Baker second, Ava Holmgren third in Canadian one-day race -
Tour de Luxembourg: Marijn van den Berg claims stage 2 with long sprint
EF Education-EasyPost rider holds off late charge from Van der Poel to move into race lead
