PLATEAU DE BEILLE
This ski station that overlooks the Ariège valley tends to attract cross-country skiers during the winter months. In summer, though, the small resort becomes a target for cyclists, and more specifically the Tour de France peloton, which has raced towards it on six occasions. In 2011, Belgian rider Jelle Vanendert took revenge on Samuel Sánchez, who had beaten him at Luz-Ardiden two days earlier. Thomas Voeckler also has good memories of Plateau de Beille, as he defended his Yellow Jersey here in both 2004 and 2011. On the last visit, in 2015, the climb offered Joaquim “Purito” Rodríguez the opportunity to win the last of his three Tour stages.
- Stage finish for the 7th time
- Mountain resort in the Pyrenees in the department of Ariège (09)
- Located in the commune of Les Cabannes
- Population: 360 (Cabannais), 7,700 within the 52 communes comprising the Haute-Ariège municipality, 154,000 in Ariège
