Stage 11 - Cugnaux > > > Luz-Ardiden - 211 km
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Km 141.5 - Hourquette d'Ancizan (1538 m) - 9.9 km climb to 7.5 % - Category 1
Km 175.5 - Col du Tourmalet (2115 m) - 17.1 km climb to 7.3 % - Category HC
Km 211.0 - Luz-Ardiden (1715 m) - 1.3 km climb to 7.4 % - Category HC
Stage 11 - Cugnaux > > > Luz-Ardiden - 211 km
Thursday, July 14, 2011
High Mountains - A sporting perspective
JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS: Summit finish in the high mountains
“The race’s first major climb, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, an off-shoot of the Aspin, makes its first appearance on the Tour. The riders then head onto the Tourmalet. They descend off that and finish with the climb to Luz-Ardiden, which has not featured in the race since 2003. That year, Armstrong crashed after colliding with a spectator, bringing Mayo down with him. Everyone waited for him, then his foot slipped out of his pedal. But in the end the American dropped all of his rivals and went on to win the stage and give himself a bit of breathing space in the yellow jersey. Following this stage, which is a long one at 209km, the overall classification will become a bit clearer and more structured.”
(letour.com)