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Tarbes
160.5 km
Sunday 12 July
The Pyrenees part of the Tour ends with a selection of the region’s great classics. With the climbs of Aspin and Tourmalet passes, what’s more in a tighter format, those who feel inspired to speed up the show just before the rest day will be able to take advantage of ideal terrain.
The Saint-Pierre collegiate church© Laure Tabary
• 11-time stage-town
• Population 12,000
• Sub-prefecture of Haute-Garonne (31)
In Saint-Gaudens passion for sport is a year-round activity: in the cycling arena of course, with the Tour de France and the Route du Sud, but also the Open Suez Gaz de France in Women’s Tennis, 13 and 15 a side rugby, football, and car racing on the Comminges car racing circuit.
Saint-Gaudens is also a town of culture: expressed on stage in the performing arts at the Jean Marmignon theatre, at the Pronomades, the national street performance centre, in the Saint-Jacques chapel, which hosts many numerous contemporary art exhibitions or, in May, during the Rencontres du Saxophone (Encounters with a Saxophone), a tribute to a native of the town, the saxophone player Guy Lafitte.
The Comminges Exhibitions Hall that stages various fairs and exhibitions, will host, from the 18th to the 20th of September, the Pyreneennes, the largest farm in the Pyrenees. This is an agricultural exhibition that is held every three years and attracts more than 40 000 visitors.
• Communauté de communes du Saint-Gaudinois
• Office de Tourisme
The City hall of Tarbes© City hall of Tarbes
• 11-time stage-town
• Population 51,000
• Prefecture of Hautes-Pyrénées (65)
Tarbes, located at the foot of the Pyrenees, is synonymous with gracious living and is home to a rich and diverse cultural, associative and sporting scene.
Tarbes, a historic town, boasts an abundance of architectural gems: its cathedral, churches and façades stylishly bear witness to its fine historical heritage.
Tarbes, a town of equestrian tradition: its national stud farm is the birthplace of the Anglo-Arab horse, its Equestria festival a showcase event.
Tarbes, a town in bloom, is famous for its nationally graded “four flowers”. The Massey Garden, a landscaped park of 11 hectares, is also listed as an outstanding site and the banks of the Adour present an ideal walking trail bounded by Pyrenean water torrents.
Tarbes, a town of sport: its geographical situation makes it an ideal spot for leisure cycling; the Tarbes Fencing Association has trained three Olympic champions, Damien and Gaël Touya in Athens in 2004, and Nicolas Lopez in Peking in 2008; the Tarbes Petits As Tennis Tournament is an international reference.
Tarbes: a modern, welcoming and vibrant town, a nice place to live.
Tarbes, a popular, animated town, attached to its past but also focused on the future.
