Should be interesting. have to wonder how much Mercado and Dessell used up on the last climb and how much they have left in the tank. Also, who in the Peleton just worked through this climb saving up to attack on marie-blanque.
In 1990, the Tour went from Lourdes to Pau on Stage 17, which included the Marie-Blanque.
Bob Roll in his book "Bobke II" said that on that day, the stage included the longer and harder HC Col d'Aubisque, but that climb did not shatter the peloton. He said he reallu suffered on the Col de Marie-Blanque (Cat 1), and "the race blew to pieces."