Race Information for Tour de France Stage 12: Destination, Route, Schedule, and Location from Auch to Hautacam
## Tour de France 2025: Stage 12 Preview
The Tour de France 2025 is set to deliver another thrilling mountain stage with the upcoming Stage 12 on Thursday, 17th July. The 180.6 km route from Auch to Hautacam promises a gruelling test for the riders, as they traverse the Gers, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments.
## Route Highlights
The stage features a relatively flat opening phase of 122.3 km, offering a potential opportunity for breakaway attempts. However, the real action is expected in the final third, as the peloton tackles the Pyrenees' challenging climbs.
## Key Climbs and Stats
- **Start:** Auch - **Finish:** Hautacam ski resort - **Distance:** 180.6 km (112.2 miles) - **Total Elevation Gain:** 3,850 meters - **Key Climbs:** Col du Soulor, Col des Bordères, Hautacam (Hors Catégorie)
### Climb Profiles
| Climb | Distance | Average Grade | Max Gradient | Notable Features | |----------------------|----------|---------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Col du Soulor | 11.9 km | 7.3% | — | First major climb of the stage, from flat terrain | | Col des Bordères | 3.1 km | 7.6% | — | Shorter but steep, precedes Hautacam | | **Hautacam (HC)** | 13.6 km | 7.8% | 11.3% (max section) | Irregular, brutal second half, iconic finish |
### Hautacam Details
The Hautacam ascent is the stage's defining feature, classified as hors catégorie for its difficulty. It starts in Argelès-Gazost and climbs 13.6 km to the ski resort, with an average gradient of 7.8%. The climb is notorious for its irregular profile, with the second half being particularly tough.
## Stage Dynamics
- **Opening Phase:** The first 122 km are relatively flat, making it attractive for breakaway attempts. - **Final 58 km:** Riders face consecutive climbs—Col du Soulor, Col des Bordères, and finally Hautacam. The irregular gradients and length of Hautacam will likely splinter the peloton and spark attacks among the general classification (GC) contenders. - **GC Implications:** This stage is expected to be decisive for the overall race, with the main GC favourites fighting for the win.
## Favourites and Contenders
In addition to the top GC riders, other climbers like Thymen Arensman, Michael Storer, Ben O’Connor, Lenny Martinez, and Michael Woods could contend if a breakaway survives.
## Broadcast Information
The live broadcast of Stage 12 will be on Teledeporte from 14:25, then switch to La 1 at 16h. Carlos de Andrés and Perico Delgado will provide comments for the live broadcast. The Tour de France 2025 will be broadcast from July 5 to 27 on the website [ourwebsite/deportes/tour-francia/](ourwebsite/deportes/tour-francia/). The live broadcast can also be watched on Play without interruptions.
## Historical Context
Hautacam has featured in six previous editions, most recently in 2022 when Jonas Vingegaard soloed to victory and distanced Tadej Pogačar, a key moment in his first overall Tour win. The climb’s reputation for unpredictability and its capacity to split the race make it a classic Tour de France mountain finish.
Stage 12 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the 2025 Tour, with Hautacam offering one of the race’s first major opportunities for GC fireworks in the mountains.
The grueling ascent of Hautacam in Stage 12 of Tour de France 2025, with an average grade of 7.8%, is expected to produce the average gradient that defines a typical mountain stage in sports. As the stage's defining feature, this climb could potentially lead to surprising results, much like its previous occurrences in the race.
