STAGE 15
Roaming 114 miles across the French-Italian border to the ski resort landing of Prato Nervoso, Stage 15 marks the beginning of a three-day stretch that, in all likelihood, will decide the 2008 Tour de France. The Tour de France often crosses into neighboring European nations like Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. The Tour hasn't visited Italy since 1999, when cancer survivor Lance Armstrong won a mountain stage to Sestriere.
The race crosses the border over the Col Agnel, a steep climb that will trim down the field. The day's break has a decent chance of surviving to the finish and might contain a contender for the polka dot (best climber) jersey (as long as he is far down in the overall). The upper slopes of the Agnel have some gnarly steep pitches which may draw out attacks for riders vying for King Of the Mountain points, but the top race leaders will surely regroup on the long downhill and even work together on the flat run-in towards the base of the day's final climb.
With no time bonuses to pick up at the finish line, the break may survive while the overall contenders poke and prod each other on the narrow, switchbacking slopes of the uphill finish to Prato Nervoso. With a rest day buffering stage 15 from two more days in the Alps, some riders will see an opportunity on this climb to attack and grab time in advance of stages 16 and 17's mammoth climbs.
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Google Earth Flyover: 2008 Tour de France
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Col Agnel
Location: 44.684277°, 6.980782°
This 'hors catégorie' climb should whittle down the main field significantly, but expect a large regroupment on the long run-in to the base of Prato Nervoso. The yellow jersey's team may have to burn some matches controlling the race on this climb.
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Colle del Morte
Location: 44.314514°, 7.699356°
Translated to English: "Hill of Death." Perhaps, but this category 3 climb is unlikely to put the pros into too much difficulty. The final climb to Prato Nervoso is right around the corner, so it could spring a rider in the breakaway looking to go it solo en route to the finish.
The finish
Location: 44.256642°, 7.780359°
Post-race panino, anyone?
Photo 1
Location: Unknown
Enter the switchbacks
Location: 44.274793°, 7.767254°
On the approach to Prato Nervoso
Photo 2
Location: Unknown
Steep enough to split the leaders
Prato Nervoso
Location: 44.256634°, 7.778535°
The final approach to the finish
This category 1 climb is making its first appearance in the Tour and may hold some surprises. With many of the favorites looking ahead to the larger mountains in stages 16 and 17, a well-timed attack on this moment could split the leaders and prove to be a game-changer in the standings.
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Look for Italian riders to be well represented in the day's break: winning a stage in the Tour on this side of the Franco-Italian border would be a nice career highlight for these riders.
Prato Nervoso
Location: 44.256634°, 7.778535°
Prato Nervoso: a Tour first
This category 1 climb is making its first appearance in the Tour and may hold some surprises. With many of the favorites looking ahead to the larger mountains in stages 16 and 17, a well-timed attack on this moment could split the leaders and prove to be a game-changer in the standings.
<p>
Look for Italian riders to be well represented in the day's break: winning a stage in the Tour on this side of the Franco-Italian border would be a nice career highlight for these riders.
