4. PYRENEAN PUNISHMENT -- After a grueling climb up the 2,000-meter (6,500-foot) Pailheres pass, riders will face a daunting uphill finish on Saturday at Ax 3 Domaines. The Tour has had three previous finishes at the ski station, all since 2000. The 1,372-meter peak looms over Ax-les-Thermes, a town with a history that stretches back to Roman times and is known for its healing waters. It's home to a hospital built in the 13th century to help care for soldiers who contracted leprosy during the Crusades in Palestine, according to the town's website.
