Tour rolls on, and Aubisque could unveil champion

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

PAU, France (AFP) — Michael Rasmussen's grip on the Tour de France yellow jersey will face the acid test on Wednesday when the race heads up to some unfamiliar territory on the 16th stage.

The third and last episode of climbing in the Pyrenees ends on the high, winding road of the Aubisque mountain pass.

Adding spice to the anticipated battle for command of the race is the fact the Aubisque, a 16.6km monster at an average gradient of seven percent, has featured only once as a summit finish.

In 1985 Irishman Stephen Roche claimed the honours, although it was legendary Frenchman Bernard Hinault who won the yellow jersey in Paris to secure his fifth and last triumph.

The battle for this year's yellow jersey could however be launched well before the main...