THE ROUTE
The summit of Prat d’Albis, with
its sweeping views over the Ariège
district, is new to the Tour this year.
BEAUTIFUL BRUTE
The Tour is heading into the land of Cathar castles in the unspoiled central Pyrenees.
But riders won’t have time to admire the verdant rural landscape on Stage 15, they’ll
be focussed on three nasty climbs as they head to the medieval city of Foix – and
then continue onwards for a final, brutal push up the Prat d’Albis. BY GILLES LE ROC’H
he central
Pyrenees and
the unspoiled
rural district of
Ariège, one of the least
populated areas in France,
are not new to the Tour
de France. Their famous
climbs have often hosted
exciting summit finishes –
at Guzet-Neige, Plateau de
Beille and Ax 3 Domaines.
Foix, too, has provided
scenic victories. In 2012,
Luis León Sánchez defeated
T
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D E F R A NC E 2019
Sandy Casar beneath its
magnificent château, while
Warren Barguil caused
a sensation by beating
Alberto Contador, Mikel
Landa and Nairo Quintana
there in 2017.
What is new this year is
that the stage won’t finish
in Foix itself – riders will
push on to the foot of the
Prat d’Albis for a final 12km
haul up a narrow, twisting
road that takes them to a
summit finish on plateau
overlooking the city and its
medieval castle. It comes
at the end of 185km that
includes 4 700m of vertical
gain and takes in a number
of infamous passes between
Limoux and Foix.
Horror climb to a
heavenly view
The route from Limoux is
ideal for attackers and the
breakaway may well have
formed before riders reach
Bélesta, at the foot of Côte
de Montségur. The site of a
famous Cathar stronghold,
razed to the ground during
the Crusade against
the Cathars in the 13th
century, the pass features
a 6.8km climb at 6%. From
there the route links to the
Port de Lers (11.4km at
7%) and then the Mur de
Péguère (9.3km at 7.9%).
At this point, the peloton
should have thinned out
considerably.
“The Mur de Péguère is
BERNARD
AUTHENTIC SPECTACLE