Final decision on missing tours is guided by a brutal Pyrenean chapter where the climbers will lay down their final move on a stage that tests every ounce of endurance. The route boasts two special-category climbs and culminates at Hautacam, a legendary finish that has long challenged the best riders.
The plan centers on Saturday, when a probationary period will shape the last general classification of the raid, setting the stage for a pivotal showdown at 143.2 kilometers between the Marian temple at Lourdes and the high altitude finish at 1,520 meters. The clock counts down as each kilometer tightens the pressure, and teams have scarcely any time to catch a breath before the race rides into its most decisive moments.
The day is short and relentless, with the first 60 kilometers presenting a brutal ascent that acts as a leg breaker and demands full attention from every rider. There is little opportunity to settle in, because the road flattens only in fleeting moments before the route vertiginously returns to the wall of the three colossal climbs awaiting ahead.
El Aubisque, a Pyrenean icon, stands as a stern gatekeeper with its peak looming 76 kilometers from the finish line and a long 16.4 kilometers long climb averaging 7.1 percent. It will drain calories and confidence, yet it also signals the start of hostilities that will be remembered long after the riders descend.
Its descent with Souler in the middle leads toward the foot of Spandelles, where the organizers traditionally added a tougher ascent to discourage a simple valley crossing en route to Hautacam. The inclusion of Spandelles marks a deliberate choice to emphasize climbing prowess and tactical positioning, turning this leg into a true test of nerve and stamina.
The discovery of Spandelles offered a clear opportunity for route planners and local authorities to address prior road conditions, a decision that ultimately convinced the race organizers that its gradient could be integrated into the 2020 course. The result is a stage that blends technical challenge with the drama of an alpine battle, giving spectators a front-row seat to a monumental contest of strength, strategy, and sheer will.