Tour de France organisers hope they have a thriller on their hands after unveiling the route map for next year's cycling showpiece event.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme, who takes over from the departing Jean-Marie Leblanc, has designed his first Tour de France route, the only legacy from Leblanc being the departure from London on 7 July at the start of a 3,500-km race.
'For the first time in 20 years, the last mountain stage will finish at the summit.
'And the stage comes after a rest day, when riders never know how they will feel. The yellow jersey holder better not be in a bad day at that point of the race.
'After the Alps, nothing will be done. We will have the answer later as the difficulties will crescendo in the Pyrenees with the summit finish at the Col de l'Aubisque,' said Prudhomme.
'It is going to be the toughest stage of the Tour.'
Prudhomme denied the 2007 Tour de France would be tougher than last year's, even though it features six mountain stages instead of five.
