The Peyresourde, the Aspin, the Tourmalet, and the Aubisque are four of the most famous climbs in the Pyreneees mountain range. However, with the summit of the final climb coming 45 km from the finish, it won't necessarily be a day for a climber to win. There will be a long descent and flat run-in to the finish line in Pau. Definitely a stage for a good strong breakaway group. Click for more stage background

The huge mountains on today's route were first ridden in the TDF in 1910. Back then the riders used very heavy single-speed bikes; no gears, no shifting, just slogging up and down some of the biggest mountains in France!

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: 200 KM or 124.3 miles. How far is that?

200 kilometers is 125 miles.

Estimated Length of Time:5:00 How long is that?

It's another five-hour stage for the racers today. In 1910 there was a 326 km stage over these mountains, and it took the winner fourteen hours!

Terrain: mountainous.

Number of Climbs: Two Cat 1, two HC climbs. 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: 6500 How much would you have to eat?

Lots and lots and lots of calories will be burned up today as the riders go up and over some of the biggest climbs of the Pyrenees. Breakfast, snack, drink, snack, snack, drink, drink, dinner, repeat tomorrow!

The route of the Tour de France goes up and over many big mountains each year. This is often where the race is won and lost. The climbs, as they are called, 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! The road to Arcalis is this year's first HC climb, and it comes at the very end of Stage 7. Time to climb!

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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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