Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes

Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets

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Wednesday 6 July - At 144.9 kilometres, stage 6 of the Tour de France travels from Tarbes to Le Cambasque above Cauterets. The finish climb is 16 kilometres long and averaging 5.4%, while two giants - Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aspin - account for the lion's share of the total elevation gain of almost 4,000 metres.

The riders clip into their pedals in Tarbes to enter the Pyrenees. Following an opening on the flat, a warm-up climb on the Côte de Capvern-les-Bains (5.6 kilometres at 4.8%), and another flat phase, the first big climb on the route is the Col d’Aspin (12 kilometres at 6.5%). The riders then descend into the valley of the Adour River, only to go up again on the most used climb on the Tour de France. The Col du Tourmalet adds up to 17.1 kilometres, while the average gradient sits at 7,3%. After descending to Luz-Saint-Sauveur the route follows the Gave de Gavarnie upstream to Pierrefitte-Nestales. That’s where the finish climb kicks in.

The first part is not very special, it all comes down to the last 4 kilometres. That’s were a section of 2.5 kilometres at double digit gradients kicks in. The climb then evens out for a bit before the final kilometre goes up at 6.6%. The entire climb is 16 kilometres long and averaging 5.4%.

Le Tour finished twice before in the mountains above Cauterets. In 1989 it was Miguel Indurain who triumphed at Le Cambasque, in 1995 Richard Virenque took the spoils on the nearby pass Les Crêtes du Lys.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 6 2023 Tour de France.

Another interesting read: results 6th stage 2023 Tour de France.