Stage 13 of the 2025 Tour de France promises to be one of the most pivotal moments in this year's Tour. On Friday, July 18th, this individual time trial from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes will test each cyclist's ability to climb and time-trial equally. With 10.9 kilometers to cover, this stage packs more punch for its buck per kilometer than any other in the Tour.
It is a short course, but not an easy one. Starting in the valley town of Loudenvielle, riders will have their ears talked off by a seemingly flat 3-kilometer introduction before getting to the real thing: an 8-kilometer 7.9% average grade mountain, with the final sections reaching as much as 13%. The finish line is found at 1,580 meters of altitude on the Altiport de Peyragudes-Balestas runway, with 650 meters of total climb which will separate the pretenders from the contenders.
The Peyragudes Challenge: It's More Than a Climb
What's so fascinating about this time trial is that it is a combination of specialties unlike typical time trials on pan-flat terrain or straight mountain stages in which cyclists can split the work. Stage 13 demands cyclists to be both breakaway men and climbers against the clock. Climbing to Peyragudes is not just about hitting the top, it's about doing it faster than anyone else in complete isolation.
The course features two intermediate time checks that will provide vital information on who's doing it on the day. The first check is at the 4-kilometer mark, at the exact point where the gradient begins to increase. The second is at 7.6 kilometers, when the road starts to rise up sharply for the final burst to the runway.
The most challenging section is the final 2.5 kilometers. Here, gradients are 13% with up to 16% in sections. At this altitude and having climbed more than 5 kilometers already, such percentages will test even the strongest climbers to the limit.
Historical Context: When Legends Battled
Peyragudes have witnessed some of the finest moments in cycling. The Tour de France has finished three times previously here, with all-time victories in 2014 and 2017 when Romain Bardet and Alejandro Valverde both claimed stage wins. But it was in 2022 that the climb actually produced what it is capable of.
They engaged in a legendary battle on these very slopes the same year, with the Slovenian coming out on top. Their battle illustrated how this climb favors cyclists able to sustain power at high elevation while dealing with the changing gradients along the way.
Notably, the Altiport gained international fame beyond cycling through its appearance in the 1997 James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies," adding a touch of film drama to a already awe-inspiring location.
Recent Form: Setting the Stage
Tour de France has been building to this definitive stage through the Pyrenees. Stage 10 saw Simon Yates of Team Visma | Lease a Bike claim the top position from Thymen Arensman of INEOS Grenadiers and Ben Healy of EF Education - EasyPost, mirroring the dominant shape of climbers who could feature prominently in the time trial.
Stage 11 provided a new situation with Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) sharing the stage win with Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla), while Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) finished second last. All this underlines the varied skills that have been emerging as the race makes its way across France.
Riders to Watch: The Contenders
Tadej Pogačar comes in as the clear favorite, having dominated these hills in 2022. His climbing talent combined with his time-trial expertise makes him ideally placed for this challenge. The UAE Team Emirates leader has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he performs at his best when under pressure, and not many stages will put as much pressure on him as this individual climb to Peyragudes.
Jonas Vingegaard can't be forgotten even after his narrow defeat here in 2022. The Danish cyclist's mountain-climbing background is excellent, and his improvement in the time trial over his recent years makes him a strong candidate. His Team Visma-Lease a Bike has been performing well, which means that he's in perfect form for this test.
Beyond these two main contenders, the stage favors riders who can excel in both disciplines. Look for strong climbers who have shown time-trial competence throughout their careers, as the unique demands of this stage will likely favor versatility over specialization.
Jersey Implications: Points Up for Grabs
Stage 13 has significant points for the green jersey (points) and polka-dot jersey (King of the Mountains) too. The Peyragudes climb is a Category 1 climb, giving 10 points to the winner down to 1 point for the sixth place in the mountains.
In the green jersey, the stage finishes award 20 points to the stage winner, with points relinquished as far as 15th place. Such points can be determined in the overall classification, particularly for riders who might not win the stage but manage to gain valuable points in their respective jersey competitions.
The Tactical Challenge
As opposed to normal time trials where riders can get into rhythm on standard inclines, Stage 13 demands strategic know-how. The initial flat 3 kilometers will attempt to lure riders into starting slowly, but riders who can gain early without sacrificing climbing form might be in the lead when the road steepens.
The greatest challenge is to pace the 8-kilometer climb appropriately. To go too hard from the start jeopardizes calamitous time losses during the final savage kilometers. Alternatively, being too conservative early can rob riders of enough time to overcome deficit losses when the slope presents itself at its most savage sections.
Weather at altitude can also be a significant consideration. The finish altitude of 1,580 meters will have temperatures lower than at the start, and any breeze would have the potential to have an enormous effect on performance on the exposed runway finish.
Betting Odds and Prediction
According to the current Stake.com odds, riders with superior end-of-race endurance and intelligent pacing strategies will thrive on this challenging stage. Favorites must take close measure of each other at the start of the stage, reserving their vital efforts for the unrelenting final slopes. Riders with prior experience finishing high-altitude climbs and dependable conditions up to now this season appear to have a huge advantage going into this stage.
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Why This Stage Matters
Tour de France time trials are often significant, but few are as laden with meaning as Stage 13. The compounding factors of wide time differences that the mountain time trials can produce, the later racing position where variations in form become apparent, and the added challenge of solo climbing against the clock make this stage poised for race-deciding drama.
For those striving for general classification, this represents one of the last opportunities to gain significant time before the race sets course for its conclusion. Placing the stage in the tour in the context of having come off the first serious mountain stages but before the dash to Paris guarantees riders are tested at their lowest ebb.
The Ultimate Test Awaits
Stage 13 is the only thing worth watching the Tour de France for: personal suffering, tactical subtlety, and the chance of breathtaking fluctuations to the general classification. It's going to be a brief stage, all 10.9 kilometers from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes, but one of the most memorable moments in the whole event.
As the cyclists near this special test, they realize that triumph is not just about strong legs. It takes precise pacing, strategic thinking, and the mental resolve to push through when the incline reaches its toughest dimensions. For fans of cycling, Stage 13 offers the rare opportunity to witness cyclists stripped down to their essentials, battling not just their opponents but the mountain itself in the most primitive form of competition the sport has to give.
