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Stage 16- Orthez to Gourette (218.5km)
Start: 10:40 a.m. (4:40 a.m. U.S. EST) - Estimated Finish: 5:11 p.m. (11:11 a.m. U.S. EST)
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COURSE: Only four days from the Tour finish, this final stage with a summit finish could see a spectacular showdown. It includes the extremely steep climb over the Col de Larrau (14km at 8 percent) into Spain, the return to France over the Pierre St.Martin (14km at 5.2 percent) and the short, sharp Marie-Blanque (9km at 8 percent) before heading up the longest, steepest side of the mythic Col d’Aubisque (16km at 7 percent). Only the strongest will be left to contest the stage — and the Tour.
HISTORY: Although a stage has never finished on this (longer) western side of the Col d’Aubisque, a summit finish took place here in 1985 via the eastern approach, while the same climb (plus a short downhill) saw a 1971 stage finish in the ski village of Gourette.
That stage, 36 years ago, went to Frenchman Bernard Labourdette, 1:32 ahead of Eddy Merckx, while Irishman Stephen Roche took the Aubisque summit victory in 1985 after a solo attack, a minute ahead of compatriot Sean Kelly FAVORITES: Given its length (probably six-and-a-half hours), intensity (almost 100km of total climbing) and critical positioning (only four days from the finish of the Tour), this stage is almost certain to designate the final podium, so Klöden, Evans, Leipheimer, Rasmussen and Valverde will all be vying for ascendancy.
