Preview: 2014 Tour de France — Stage 16

Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon (237.5km)

Tuesday, July 22nd 5:00 a.m. – 10:56 a.m. EDT

Following the second rest day is the longest stage of the 2014 Tour. There are 237.5km on the menu, which is about six hours in the saddle with the climb of the Port de Balès right before the finish. Over the last few years, the rider who crosses the summit with a lead of 30 or 40 seconds is guaranteed to maintain that advantage on the descent and ride into Bagnères-de-Luchon victorious. On paper, this stage is not the most difficult of the Tour, but don’t forget that in 2010 we saw Andy Schleck lose the yellow jersey on the Port de Balès as a result of a mechanical incident.