It is Monday 19th July 2010 and the riders of the Tour de France are in the Pyrenees for the race’s 15th stage – 187.5km from Pamiers to Bagnèresde-Luchon. On the menu are the climbs of the Portet-d’Aspet and the Port de Balès, the latter a 19km-long monster that tops out just 21km before the finish.
Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck is in great form, riding in yellow and with one stage to his name already after winning in Morzine-Avoriaz eight days ago. The Saxo Bank rider assumed the race lead on the following stage when Cadel Evans, struggling with a fractured elbow, lost significant time on a day that took in
