2015 Tour de France in the Pyrenees.
New rumours would indicate that the route of the 2015 Tour de France in the Pyrénées will be as follows.
July 13th: Rest day in Pau
July 14th: Tarbes – La Pierre-Saint-Martin. Possible Soulor, Aubisque and Marie Blanque.
July 15th: Pau – Vallée des Gaves perhaps Cauterets or Lourdes. Or Pau – Luchon. Start will be in Pau for sure. This should cross Col du Tourmalet.
July 16th: Lannemezan – Foix or somewhere nearby. Perhaps Plateau de Beille. This stage will cross Portet d’Aspet in memory of Fabio Casartelli.
July 17th: Foix – Rodez.
Exact routes are unknown but there is potential for some great routes.
La Pierre-Saint-Martin
La Pierre-Saint-Martin is a ski station on the French Spanish border in the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It is near the town of Arrete. It was crossed by stage 16 of Le Tour de France in 2007. The stage was from Ortez to Col d’Aubisque. Mauricio Soler of Columbia was the first rider over the summit. From Arrete the climb is 25.8km long @ 5.7% and climbs 1466 metres to the summit at 1800m altitude. Along with the ski station and now Le Tour de France the area is well known for it caves, which are among the largest and most extensive in the world. They are known to extend to several kilometres in length and one has a cavern so large, 245 metres in diameter and 194 metres high, it is said that Notre Dame Cathedral could fit in it 6 times. It is so large, that a hot-air balloon has been flown inside.
La Pierre-Saint-Martin, view to the south into Spain.
La Pierre-Saint-Martin, view to the north into France.
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PSM is a great climb. I hope this is correct.