In 2008 I had the pleasure of a large scale reconnaissance of this route in preparation for the day I might need to describe it on some yet to exist forum, and so will be able to inform you of every aspect of the route from every angle. All the important things you will need to know about this route will be right here.


The days racing starts in Limoux, famous for its Blanquette de Limoux which is similar to and predates champagne but often at quite low alcohol levels, making it an ideal breakfast pick-me-up when mixed with orange juice. In fact the race starts right outside a blanquette boutique no less. Expect to a number of domestiques dispatched inside to pick up supplies. Next door is a pharmacy which will delight the Rabobank medical staff as they’ll be able to restock bandages, splints, plaster casts etc. That’s about it for Limoux as the race avoids the picturesque town centre and rolls out along a nondescript suburban street past a large  cemetary. Medicine, wine and death on the exit from Limoux.


The route winds southwards along the banks of the river Aude, by-passing Alet-les-Bains and arriving at Couiza at about lunchtime. Expect to see Team Radioshack head for the restaurant at the Chateau des Ducs de Joyeuse, maybe the best name for a castle on this tour, as they try and blow the race budget while they still can.

Just up the hill is Rennes le Chateau made famous by the fiction of Dan Brown in the Da Vinci Code Notice the Europcar green jersey and Voeckler-like expression. There’s not much opportunity to get in supplies in Couiza apart from a big warehouse selling wood, which doesn’t appear useful at first glance. On the way out there is Midi Medicale which specialises in “L’hospitalisation a domicile”, so Garmin could have stayed at home and been hospitalised there instead.

The route then wobbles westwards until it hits Quillan, possibly the last chance to refuel for the Astana team before the climbing starts in earnest.  Turn sharp right across a level crossing and up the Col de Portel.  Opinion is divided on how hard this climb is; I found it quite easy. The benefit of a 2.5 litre V6 I suppose. Expect to see the Lampre team’s Kias struggle on this climb, possibly a good one for the low down power of the Green edge Subaru.
Through Puivert but not worth stopping to look at the Chateau and North towards Chalabre which has an excellent Chateau, with real live jousting so expect to see Goss and Sagan stop off to settle their differences.

Along pretty roads flanked by  sunflowers until Lavalenet which isn’t pretty at all but does contain big supermarkets, petrol and yet another pharmacy. In fact this route does seem to pass every pharmacy in the region. And on through beautiful but uneventful scenery until…
The race reaches the key moment of the day, Tarascon sur Ariege, for it is here that the race passes by the Parc de la Prehistoire, a must see for the whole peloton. I learnt how to throw a spear using a string and stick lever thing and drilled a cardboard goat from 40 yards. Unfortunately none of the French tourists witnessed this, as they had already surrendered their spears and were busy trying to chat up the young lady assistant.

Then there are a couple of climbs and down into the finish at Foix.


But no wait, what if one of the teams runs out of tyres? Well thank goodness this eventuality is taken care of as the race makes a completely essential detour North past a Continental tyre warehouse in Saint-Jean-De-Verges. There’s also a Decathlon in case any teams require cheap sporting goods, bikes for example.

Back to Foix just in time for tea and medals.

This could be a cracking stage even with the completely unnecessary loop at the end. The second half of Mur de Peguere is brutal.

Standings etc when I learn how to use the tables thingy

Just copy the ones Dim did for his stage and change the numbers, that's what I did

Good job on the descriptions! I hope this stage will prove to be of interest, it's the last stage before my vacation (just mentioned it to pee off ram further).

I don't mind that it's not a MTF, but couldn't they have had the finish line at the bottom of the last climb.

Another one of these stages designed by ASO which have the potential to be so great but yet may also be incredibly uneventful, looking at today and the favourites willingness to attack this stage could be a real classic if the attacks come on the Lars.

The problem is that attacks on the Peguere will not take that much time out of Wiggins in the grand scheme of things whilst attacks on the Lers do have the potential to as attacking from the foot is unlikely and it is hard to see the challengers taking too much time out of Wiggins by the summit and it is likely Wiggins will have a couple of team mates to bring it back together on the descent, but on the Lers if they stay away till the Peguere they can race that really hard and shed Wiggins' team mates and attempt to put time into him on the descent.

Froome would indeed be well-suited for this kind of climb, but don't forget Nibali has done some good performances on even steeper climbs (Bola del Mundo, Zoncolan). If there's any climb Wiggins could break on, it should be this one. However, the bloody loop messes up this whole stage. Too bad, but still a lot could happen. However, I fear all contenders will arrive together, since Sky will just TTT their way back up on the field.

Either Evans or Froome from a small group sprint or someone from the break to win.

Disappointing stage GC wise but it seemed difficult if not near impossible for them to attack on the final climb.

Also there has now been confirmation that carpet tacks were spread over the road near the top of the Col de Peguere where in fact 20 riders punctured quite remarkable and yet the culprit has not been found as of yet... I would not bet on it not having to do with RANT the way things are going.... probably Andy having his revenge

Has anyone seen LaFlo on the boards today? She's been noticeably absent, I think. Not really implying anything here... Actually yeah, I am  ;D

Anyway, good stage win by LuLu. Out of the 5 guys left I was hoping for anyone, but Sagan, but LuLu more than anyone else really. Apparently he attacked while Sagan was taking a bite, that's a way to win the race - attack

I've seen LaFlo on CN.com a lot lately. Somehow I've been lost at the piece of crap forum again. I don't know why, but I like to use the forum to talk about cycling more than chat. Just a shame CN.com has become such a crackhouse full of trolls and idiots

There are photos out now of both bicycle and police motorbike wheels with tacks embedded in the tire.

Pbk have a picture up of one such bike wheel on a car roof.

Damage could have been a lot worse than it was with only one rider injured.

Evans saved by 'unwritten rules'. One day they should really publish them.

Some "sh*t rider" from non-anglophone country (SRFNAC hereinafter) gets stuck behind a crash/mechanical - ride your heart out. An anglophone rider suffers the same fate - slow down for him, and if some SRFNAC actually has the balls to attack - make him feel like a total douchebag

HTF did this become about Anglos? Would've/should've been the same if Menchov was in contention.

Evans saved by 'unwritten rules'. One day they should really publish them.

It's too expensive. Puffin just rejected it.

Was Contador not a defending champion in 2010? Or was it just stage 3 that he was not a defending champion (or and please don't give me the BS that Fabian cared about a stage win there, we both know that would be pure BS)

I considered that when I made the post and indeed people would have attacked and gone for the stage win on that stage which would have defeated the point.

Fairynuff, if they'd raced on, they'd have raced on, but they didn't and fair enough again. I don't like this leader dictating the race, but it would've been sh*te if Evans or even Alberot had lost minutes because of a series of punctures, and possibly dodgy ones too. and unwritten rules on important things as such will always be dodgy.

Anyway, how long before the next time these climbs get a gig again?

Nailgate I like it.