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A Tour de Force
July 05, 2010
Four strategic stages will determine where this year's Tour de France will be won
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July 05, 2010

A Tour De Force

Four strategic stages will determine where this year's Tour de France will be won

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Two-time-champion Contador (above), the odds-on favorite to win this year's Tour, can make a decisive move here. The final climb is short at just 1.9 miles but averages more than a 10% grade. In other words, it's treacherous.

STAGE 17

JULY 22 | FINAL CLIMB

Riders will attack the sadistically steep Col du Tourmalet, the Tour's highest point (6,939 feet), for the second time in three days. Armstrong (above, left) used this pass to cement several of his Tour wins.

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