On the third Saturday of the 2025 Tour de France, we prepare for the toughest Pyrenean stage of this edition. Climbs of the Tourmalet, Aspin, and Peyresourde will sound like music to fans’ ears. Superbagnères will only ring a bell with older followers. After two days of the Great Pogačar Show, we now expect other riders to take the lead. WielerFlits looks ahead!
The third race weekend in the Tour de France kicks off with fireworks, as nearly 5,000 meters of elevation gain will be tackled in the Pyrenees, finishing in the ski resort of Superbagnères. This takes us back in history, as that climb was last included almost forty years ago. Since then, course designers have bypassed it. Yet only great names have won here: Robert Millar was the last in 1989, preceded by the likes of Greg Lemond (1986), Bernard Hinault (1979), and the Spanish pure climber Federico Bahamontes (1962). This will be the seventh time the Tour peloton ascends here. Pau is the familiar start town for this 183-kilometer Pyrenean stage. The French city has been the start 66 times before, for good reason. Pau is the gateway to the Pyrenees and offers excellent logistical facilities. This role as the entry to the Pyrenees stretches back centuries—if not millennia. Fans know by now: whenever Pau appears in the route book as the start, climbing is guaranteed.
Back to this edition’s stage. The first 70 kilometers are fairly calm, with a flat approach to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, at the foot of the legendary Col du Tourmalet, which must be conquered again—marking the 89th time in Tour de France history. The Pyrenean giant, 19 kilometers averaging 7.4%, brings riders up to an altitude of 2,115 meters. At the summit lies the Souvenir Jacques Goddet, a tribute to the second Tour director. This prize is always awarded on the Tourmalet when it’s on the route. The first rider to cross the summit gets 5,000 euros.
After the descent toward Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, it’s time to climb the Col d'Aspin. Although shorter than the Tourmalet, 5 kilometers at 7.6%, it’s no less famous than its bigger sibling. The Aspin has featured 71 times—first appearing in 1910—out of the 111 previous editions. This is because the Aspin connects the Tourmalet and the Col de Peyresourde, a trio that the Tour loves to include. That’s again the case now, as after descending to Arreau, riders begin the Peyresourde. This 7.1-kilometer climb averages 7.8% and is the penultimate ascent of the day. The final challenge of this stage is the climb to Superbagnères, a ski resort last visited in 1989. Why it took so long to return is unclear. However, Superbagnères holds a Tour record. In 1971, the finish was from Bagnères-de-Luchon for the shortest ever stage in line: 19.6 kilometers. The climb is characterized by irregular gradients with a very steep finish. 
Tadej Pogačar and co have had their spotlight in recent days, with the spectacular mountain stage to Hautacam and the climbing time trial to Peyragudes. Yes, the world champion is by far the best climber in this Tour de France. He has gained his sought-after revenge for the 2022 Tour at Hautacam, already claimed four (!) stage wins, and leads the general classification by a huge margin. 
Will Team Pogačar take it a bit easier? - photo: Cor Vos
Will the UAE Emirates XRG riders dare to ease the reins in this mountain stage and allow a breakaway group some leeway? It’s an opportune moment not only to let Pogačar himself shift into consolidation mode ahead of the super-tough final week but also to give his teammates the chance to relax a bit. Tim Wellens, Jhonatan Narvaez, and Nils Politt were strong, but Adam Yates couldn’t even pull on the front approaching Hautacam: the Brit simply had to drop back. Rest would certainly be welcome for riders like him, it seems. Moreover, it could only increase Pogačar’s popularity in the peloton if he gives others a chance now and then. The question is whether Visma | Lease a Bike will grant that to the UAE riders. On the road to Hautacam, they were also the ones pulling, initially to wear down Pogačar’s teammates and possibly isolate the Slovenian. However, it backfired: Giro winner Simon Yates had to drop without doing much work. Matteo Jorgenson and leader Jonas Vingegaard also did not have their best day. It seems unlikely that Visma will want to use the same strategy this time. After the time trial, it may be time to try a different approach. Of course, the GC ambitions with Vingegaard are not abandoned, but riding with Pogačar to the final climb is suicidal. So they will have to adopt the strategy used in the stage to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy. Simon Yates won there; he could attack again and contest the stage win. We might expect the same from Sepp Kuss, who has been in better form in recent stages, and even Matteo Jorgenson. 
Yates outpaced his breakaway companions in stage 10 - photo: Cor Vos
The expectation is not that UAE Emirates XRG will follow that scenario, as Pogačar reportedly prefers to keep as many pawns closely around him as possible. But maybe Soudal Quick-Step has a good shot for the stage win. Ilan Van Wilder seems to be in peak form and performs as the only climbing domestique at top level for Remco Evenepoel. He can help Evenepoel maintain a podium spot, but sending the Flemish-Brabanter on the attack is also no bad idea given the leader’s dip in form. Should a breakaway receive a free pass from Pogačar and company, we are most eager to see some names already visible in this Tour who haven’t yet found terrain to their liking. For the first time this Tour, on the way to Luchon-Superbagnères, there are four tough climbs in a row, letting pure climbers fully unleash. We might think of Thymen Arensman, who came extremely close with Yates on that stage. Arensman also showed well en route to Hautacam and, lacking GC ambitions, appears free to race in this Tour de France. The Dutchman only gets stronger during a Grand Tour. There is also his more powerful Spanish teammate Carlos Rodriguez, who has approached the world’s top in the past but can definitely thrive in a breakaway. In the GC, he trails by some 20 minutes—enough room to operate. 
Arensman rides freely in this Tour - photo: Cor Vos
We can’t overlook Bruno Armirail. The 31-year-old Frenchman from Decathlon AG2R may well be riding at the peak level of his career. Without the hard work from Visma | Lease a Bike, something good was possible even on Hautacam. Next year he’ll ride for the yellow team, so this might be his last chance to shine. His compatriots Guillaume Martin (Groupama-FDJ) and polka-dot jersey wearer Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) can also go very far with an early breakaway. From the Australian camp, we expect lots of breakaway aggression. Tudor climber Michael Storer can have a masterful day at any moment—think back to the Tour of the Alps—when he outclasses everyone. Given his attacking spirit in France, that day may well come. And now that Ben O'Connor (Jayco AlUla) has abandoned GC ambitions, he might also pose a threat. Since there have been few breakaway opportunities so far, many names come to mind. We also think of Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Enric Mas and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), Emanuel Buchmann (Cofidis), Clement Champoussin and Sergio Higuita (XDS Astana), Steff Cras (TotalEnergies), Warren Barguil (Picnic PostNL), and Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility). 
Michael Storer can rise above himself - photo: Cor Vos
Riders like Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), the Red Bull BORA hansgrohe duo Primoz Roglic-Florian Lipowitz, Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), and Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R) are having excellent Tours but are still too close in the GC to go for stage wins.
After days of heat, temperatures will drop significantly overnight in Pau ahead of this stage. Some rain and thunderstorms contribute to this. During the day, it will clear up, and riders can expect temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius. Winds will blow at 3 Beaufort from the northwest. Stage 14 will be broadcast live from start to finish on Eurosport 1 and HBO Max. NOS and Sporza also have broadcasting rights for the Tour de France and will provide live coverage. For exact broadcast times, check our cycling TV guide.
Pau) Luchon-Superbagnères)
