This is what they call the "queen stage" of this year's race. That means it is the biggest, hardest mountain stage of the whole TDF. The riders had a rest day yesterday, but they all made sure to get out and ride a little bit; they don't want their legs to get too used to doing nothing. Today starts with a small Cat 4 climb, then the legendary Col du Marie-Blanque, then the even more legendary Col du Soulor, and finally the mega-triple-legendary Col du Tourmalet! Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador will be battling each other in a dogfight to end all dogfights. I can't wait! Click for more stage background

The mighty Tourmalet was fist climbed in the Tour de France in 1910 when Octave Lapize was first to the top. Back then it was a dirt road used by shepherds and goats! Since then it has been scaled 73 times in the TDF. But this year will be only the second time EVER to have a stage finish at the top. Up, up, and away!

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: 174 KM or 108.1 miles. How far is that?

174 kilometers is the same as 108 miles. That's a long distance for sure, but today the riders won't be worried so much about the length of the stage. It's the three giant climbs, including the second-ever finish atop the mighty Col du Tourmalet that will have them shaking in their cleats! 

Estimated Length of Time:6:00 How long is that?

It will take the riders around six hours to get to the finish today. That's a long day in the saddle! In that time you could watch three Twilight movies, if you reeeealy wanted to. 

Terrain: mountainous.

Number of Climbs: One Cat 4, 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: 7000 How much would you have to eat?

Today is probably the biggest calorie-burner of the whole TDF. One small mountain to warmup, followed by two BIG Cat 1 climbs, and finally a very long slog to the top of the Col du Tourmalet. YOWZAH! It's almost hard to eat enough food on a day like this; that's why the racers look even skinnier now than they did at the start 2 1/2 weeks ago!

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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