This short stage starting in Pau (population 82,000) has a double bite at the end and will likely decide the final contenders for overall victory in Paris. The first half skirts the mountains on mostly flat roads that encourage breakaways, while the second half has the two nasty bites: the mighty Col du Tourmalet (18km uphill at almost 8 percent to 7,000 feet elevation) and the climb to the finish at the ski station of Hautacam (17km at 7 percent, with some fierce double-digit grades along the way). In between the two hors catégorie giants is an eye-watering 18km descent to Luz-St. Sauveur and another 18km of mostly downhill roads through the Gorge du Luz. Then comes the brutal ascent to the line.