The 15th stage of the 2005 Tour de France, from Lezat-sur-Leze to Saint-Lar-Soulon (Pla-d’Adet), will get underway at 11.10am (4:10 CDT). There is only 600m of neutral zone before the flag will fall to signal the start of the hardest stage of the 92nd edition of the race.
The 15th stage features no less than six difficult climbs. It will be an emotional day as the peloton passes the memorial to Fabio Casartelli who lost his life because of injuries sustained in a crash during the Tour de France 10 years ago. The race direction will stop on the first climb to pay tribute to the 1992 Olympic road race champion.
The climbs today are:
The cat-two Col du Portet d’Aspet (at 85km)
The cat-1 Col de Mente (at 100.5km)
The cat-1 Col du Portillon (at 137.5km)
The cat-1 Col de Peyresourde (at 162km)
The cat-1 Col de Val-Louron Azet (at 182.5km)
And the final ascent to the ‘hors category’ summit at Pla-d’Adet