Stage 11 profile
Tarbes' claim to fame, according to the town's website, is its beans... and being the home town of Marshal Foch, the supreme commander of Allied forces in World War One.

Your Tour experiences:
My friend and I cycled up the Peyresourde and d'Aspin on the same day back in July 2003. We tried to do the Tourmalet in the same day too but couldn't as we had so much luggage with us, including a trailer attached to my bike. We managed Tourmalet the day after. Fantastic ascents on all of them and the views from the top are outstanding, especially Peyresourde. I would advise any cyclist to cycle the Alps or the Pyrenees in the summer, it really is worth it.
Jonathan , Cardiff

Our party arrived too late in Luchon to be able to ride the descent of this years Peyresourde, the first tour vans had already come down. So we about turned and rode through the town following the route, having a good jostle to see who could win the intermediate sprint, to great elation from the crowds. Then we rode up the Portillon, only a small climb, but steep in parts. I had a spoke ping out of my back wheel, and then after being pressed hard into my seat the wheel buckled. I thought the brakes were stuck on, but it was the tyre rubbing the top and bottom rear stays! One of the group, Steph, turned to domestique and gave up her wheel, cheers Steph, and I could carry on. Only lost my 13-29 sprocket for an 11-23, never mind just glad to carry on. Hot, hot day and great atmosphere, I'm still a novice at these hills but recommend them to anyone who likes to ride. They are inspiring when you've reached the top, and once you get your breath back it's amazing how you want more.! I fancy the Alps next year to build up my catalogue of Tour mountains, it's like train spotting, tick em off as you've done em. More pain please!
ANDY, RUGBY

A friend and I did the Tourmalet in 2004 from Tarbes to Argeles via Ste Marie de Campon. A gentle ride up the river valley for 30km saw us reach Ste Marie de Campan at midday - time for lunch we thought. Confronted by two choices - the local cafe or the Hotel des Deux Cols we opted for the latter and a four course lunch with wine. The locals thought we had just come down the mountain and were amazed to see us heading uphill an hour or so later. The climb was a painful experience - we were on Dawes Audax tourers with panniers - but the elation at the top was fantastic. The following day we did the Soulour and Aubisque on a banana and water diet and found it easier - unsurpisingly. We are doing Ventoux this September!
Phil, Shropshire

I cycled the Tourmalet about 10 years ago with a group of friends fully laden with camping gear etc. As has always been my experience cycling in France we had a huge amount of support from people as we climbed. We got a cheer as we reached the summit and not because we were women or had too much luggage but because we were cyclists and the fraternity generates support from every French man and woman that you meet. I agree with other writers that the Marie Blanc felt steeper- but my personal highpoint will always be Ventoux as I was finally fit enough (and not overburdened with luggage) not to stop on the way up!!
Kate Culley, Dartmouth, UK

This stage brings me both joy and sadness. I have happy memories of camping with mates at La Mongie the night before the riders ascended that great climb. However, it was also on that day 11 years ago that the Tour lost one of its bright young talents, Fabio Casartelli. I wish all riders safe passage through the mountains.
Mike, Sheffield

A friend and I cycled through the Pyrenees about ten years ago roughly following the Tour route at the time. We cycled up the Col du Tourmalet, the Col D'Aubisque, the Aspin and the Peyresourde, but I thought the hardest climb was the Col de Marie Blanc, which is part of Stage 10. It was roastingly hot and the the lower sections of the climb were agony - and it's not even a Hors category climb !
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I failed to cycle the Col du Tourmalet last year. I didn't feel bitter or get the blues at all. Pffffft.
Dancing Dave, Liverpool

I rode most of this stage in the other direction last summer, as part of the raid pyreneen (coast to coast over the mountains). The Peyresourde was beautiful - a gentle climb which was covered in grasshoppers the morning we rode it. The top of the Col d'Aspin was covered in cows. The Tourmalet was something else - as we approached I was alarmed that it was a fairly gentle climb until about 10KM from the top as that meant the next 10KM were going to be severely steep. They were also very hot. I ate a power gel that had been in my back pocket somewhere between La Mongie and the top and it was like eating hot vaseline. Just before La Mongie there is a snow-tunnel and I jumped under a waterfall running from its roof to cool down. Only problem was this made factor 30 sun cream run into my eyes for the last 5 KM. By the time I reached La Mongie the road tar was melting and still when I pass roadworks I'm transported back to that hot, steep climb. Probably better to have been blind! ed by sun cream for La Mongie as its - like most ski stations in summer - a complete eyesore. The next bit is a blur - I remember seeing sheep looking near death from the heat by the side of the road and hey - then you get a fantastic view and it's the top. I had a cold coke and then jumped up and down - partly from joy of having made it and partly from all the caffeine I'd consumed to get up there. But it was worth it.
claire glossop, london

the tourmalet will always live in my memories for the fantastic climb and my friend, Baz, breaking his neck on the descent and then having to ride back to Gerona Airport through the mountains with a collar supporting his neck and his bike loaded with his panniers. Yes he had to do his turn on the front too
adrian burns, san francisco

I was fortunate enough to have been a tour guide in the Pyrenees when the Tour went through in 1983. I had no clue who was who but my photos reveal Laurant Fignon and co. I have climbed the Tourmalet, Aspin and Puerto de Beret more than 10 times, in a bus. This is one of the toughest of this year's stages
Mike Silva, Netherlands

A few years ago I drove up the Col, looking at all the famous names painted on the road - really evocative. Before I got to the top my car overheated and I had to wait by the roadside for an hour until it had cooled enough for me to continue. How on earth do they cycle up there?
Gavin, Rossendale

This is the stage that can decide the overall winner of the Tour. hopefully "Big George" Hincapie, who has his best ever chance to win Le Tour. The first climb should see a quick breakaway - and perhaps make a rookie's name in the Tour.
Monty, London

It was probabaly eight or nine years ago that I was staying near here as the Tour passed. A few days later I set out to conquer the Col du Tourmalet and surprised myself no end by cycling the whole way to the top. I was really looking forward to a fantastic spin back down but had barely done a few hundred meters when my back wheel buckled leaving me with a long and lonely descent - oh for a support car!
Nick, Horsham

One of the stages that will have a massive impact on who takes home the yellow jersey. The hors category and three category one climbs should break up the peloton so expect a smallish group of main contenders to hit the bottom slopes of Puerto de Beret together. Though not the steepest hill in Le Tour this is a long unremitting climb and will be the stage for attack after attack as the big guns attempt to blow each other away. After today we'll have an idea of the identity of Lance Armstrong's successor, don't be surprised if today's winner takes overall glory.
PJ Atkinson, London

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