Climbers are called to stand out in the ninth stage of the Tour de France, on Sunday, between Pau and Laruns, on condition that they also know how to descend on this 153-kilometer long route.
The arrival will take place in this small town at the foot of the Aubisque, after the technical descent of the Marie-Blanque followed by eight kilometers in the Ossau valley.
The second part of the Pyrenean diptych is essentially made up of two first-rate ascents.
At the gates of the French Basque Country, the Col de la Hourcère, an important (11.1 km at 8.8%) ascent unprecedented on the Tour, serves as a springboard for the Soudet (3rd category) near La Pierre-Saint- Martin, about 75 kilometers from the finish line.
After the long descent, the small col de Ichère (3rd) leads to Marie-Blanque, which is climbed on its hardest slope (7.7 km at 8.6%). At the top there are only 18 kilometers to go, and from there to the team buses, which will depart towards the Charente-Maritime department for the first rest day.
Laruns (1,200 inhabitants) receives the Tour for the third time, two years after the victory of Primoz Roglic in a stage that came from the other side of the valley, along the Aubisque slope.
The departure will take place in Pau at 12:15 local time (10:15 GMT) and the arrival is scheduled for around 4:27 PM (2:27 PM).
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