Today is the major climbing stage of the Alps. However, most of the climbs come too early for a real selection to be made. The mighty Col de la Madeleine is near the finish, and that's where we should see the real climbing fireworks happen. It's our first HC climb of this year's TDF. What does HC mean? "Hors Categorie," or "above categorization." It's even harder than a Cat 1 climb! Click for more stage background

This is the first TDF stage ever to finish in St. Jean-de-Maurienne, even though the Tour visits this area almost every year. 

Start Time: 12:00 p.m. Central European Time.

Stage Type: Road Race. Explain

Riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first at the end of the course. Members of teams together to work to give advantage to their fastest riders or to their rider best placed in the overall standings.

Stage Distance: 205 KM or 127.4 miles. How far is that?

205 kilometers is the same as 127 miles. That's a loooooong ride, especially when you consider there are four very big climbs along the way!

Estimated Length of Time:5:45 How long is that?

Today's stage is expected to take the riders almost six full hours to reach the finish. You probably spend about seven hours at school each day. Imagine spending that much time on a bike, riding up and down some of the biggest mountains in France, and at a super-fast speed. Yikes!

Terrain: mountainous.

Number of Climbs: One Cat 4, one cat 2, two Cat 1, and one HC climb. What does "cat" mean?

"Cat" is short for "category." The climbs are rated according to how long and hard they are. They are ranked Category 1-4, with 4 being the "easiest" (I'm not sure they're so easy!) and 1 being the "hardest." But wait- there's even a harder one! Climbs that are rated "Hors Categorie" (above category) are longer and steeper than a Category 1. That sounds HARD!

Estimated Calories: 8000 How much would you have to eat?

Today is the biggie, a serious calorie-burner. How about 38 carrot sticks, two bowls of mac and cheese, half a pizza, a turkey sandwich, and a big bowl of pasta? My tummy hurts!

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Are you hungry?

By Mari Holden at Velo Betty

It's really important for the cyclists to eat and drink while they are on the bike. In a race like the Tour de France the riders can barely keep up with replacing the amount of calories that they burn. So, they have to make sure that they eat while they are riding. Normally they will carry some small bars and gels in their jersey pockets. But, they can go back to their team cars in the caravan to get more food and bottles. There are guys on the team who are designated to help the other riders, and they will make many trips to the car. Their job is really important because they are helping the other riders on the team. There are also areas called "feed zones" where each team has people waiting by the side of the road to hand their riders bottles. They normally hand the bottles to their riders in "musettes which are like cloth purses for food and bottle. That way each rider can get a couple bottles and some food all in one bag. The cyclists have to eat so much every day that they actually get tired of eating and have to work hard to get their calories. So, sometimes the teams add some of the riders favorites in their musette bags... Things like small sandwiches, and cookies are favorites...

 

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