Guest
“Friday, 8 September The Vuelta makes a detour to France on the 13th stage. The race starts high in the Tena valley and leads over the Portalet, Aubisque and Spandelles to end on the Col du Tourmalet after 135 kilometres and almost 4,300 metres in altitude. The final climb is 7.4% over 18.9 kilometres, with the last kilometre even climbing into double digits. In the 2020 edition, which was hit by the COVID 19 pandemic, the Vuelta was also supposed to end on the Tourmalet. It didn't happen then because the caravan wasn't allowed to cross the border. This is now being made up for with a finish on the most travelled pass in the history of the Tour de France. The race now begins roughly where the modified route of the time ended. It's a short climb to the Portalet pass and then down to Laruns. That's where the Col d'Aubisque begins. From this side it is 16.5 kilometres of climbing at 7.1%. The most difficult sections are between the Cascade de Valentin and the Gourette ski station, where the gradients reach values between 10% and 13%. The descent leads over a small climb, the Col du Soulor, and in Les Ganques the Col de Spandelles awaits, a 10.3 km long climb with 8.3 %, which is in double digits in many sections. The route then descends to Argelès-Gazost, and after a section in the valley, the final climb begins in Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Over 18.9 kilometres, the road climbs 1,405 metres in altitude. There are eight hairpin bends and the average gradient is 7.4%. The focus is on the last kilometre, which climbs by almost 10 %. At this finish, Thibaut Pinot triumphed in the 2019 Tour. He finished 6 seconds ahead of Julian Alaphilippe and Steven Kruijswijk, while the eventual overall winner Egan Bernal crossed the finish line another 2 seconds later.“ ( & Routes 'n' Maps 'n' Flags) Creating cycling stage animations requires a lot of work and computing power. You are welcome to support me with a donation:
