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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Iconic ascents, unpredictability and 'a little bit of craziness' - Tales from the women's Giro d'Italia
From the very first winner in 1988, 'La Mamma Volante', to the latest 'amazing journey' that put Elisa Longo Borghini in the maglia rosa in her 13th participation -
Canyon overhauls the Grizl gravel bike and gives it a crazy new handlebar
Canyon has also released it's own range of carbon fibre wheels alongside the new Grizl gravel models -
On the road with Philippa York and David Walsh – 'The Escape: The Tour, the Cyclist and Me' book extract
York and Walsh discuss the Tour de France, gender in sport, doping, and much more in wide-ranging new book -
UCI Gravel World Series – Sophie Wright and Andreas Seewald win the climb heavy Gravel Suisse
Runner-up spots claimed by Axelle Dubau-Prévot and Eislek Gravel winner Mathijs Loman
