Monster stage honors French national holiday

The second week of the Tour de France is almost over. For the French, this week concludes with the celebration of the beginning of the French Revolution. It has become a tradition in the Tour that on this festive day, riders are presented with a spectacular route. Quatorze Juillet brings the riders in this edition over 198 kilometers from Loudenvielle to the summit of Plateau de Beille. Along the way, five categorized climbs await in the Pyrenees, totaling over 5000 meters of elevation gain.

For the first time in Tour history, riders depart from Loudenvielle. Four times before, this location near the popular Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle has been the backdrop for the finish. The very first time was in 1997, when, coincidentally on July 14th, Frenchman Laurent Brochard emerged victorious. This edition, the residents of Loudenvielle bid farewell to the riders for a challenging day in the Pyrenees.

The peloton sets off towards Plateau de Beille. The plateau is a popular spot for winter sports, but in summer, it serves as the ultimate climax for this challenging mountain stage. Plateau de Beille has been the finish six times before, yet a Frenchman has never won here. On a day like this, the French hope that, akin to 1997, a compatriot can add the icing on the cake of the festivities.

On Quatorze Juillet, the French commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the onset of the French Revolution. This event is seen as the birth of modern France. Nationalistic sentiments soar, and the motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" resonates throughout the country.
It remains to be seen if this well-known motto will apply to the riders on a day like this. Liberty? Not for the general classification riders. Equality? Unlikely. Fraternity? Something only the strongest teams can hope for. The 5000 meters of elevation gain are daunting, and the riders must stay vigilant all day. The climbing begins right from the start.

The riders will tackle the Col de Peyresourde (6.9 kilometers at 7.8%), followed swiftly by the Col de Menté (9.3 kilometers at 9.1%) and Col de Portet-d’Aspet (4.3 kilometers at 9.7%). These gradients are challenging, but after these climbs, the riders have around sixty kilometers to recover.

The second half of the stage is characterized by the Col d’Agnes (10 kilometers at 8.2%) and the final climb to Plateau de Beille. Here, riders will battle 15.8 kilometers uphill to the finish, averaging 7.9%. With a rest day on the horizon, they can empty their tanks here. Will the French finally get a French winner on Quatorze Juillet?

Date	14 July 2024
Start	Loudenvielle-Le Louron
Finish	Plateau de Beille
Distance	197.7 km
Type	Individual Road Race
Average Speed	37.79 km/h
Overall Profile	Mountain
Finish Profile	Mountain

Tour de France

Men Elite - 2.UWT