This stage departed from Pau, heading south-east to Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre and then east through Lourdes. The peloton then headed over the category 3 Côte de Loucrup turning south-east before a sprint in Pouzac, riding through Bagnères-de-Bigorre, turning north-east to the category 4 Côte de Bagneres-de-Bigorre and then east to the category 3 Côte de Mauvezin. The race turned south at La Barthe-de-Neste heading to Arreau before facing the climb of the category 1 Col d'Aspin, with a 6.5% gradient ascending to . The riders then descended into the valley at Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and began the Hors catégorie Col du Tourmalet, a climb, at a gradient of 7.3%, to a height of , taking the eastern route through La Mongie. The first rider over the summit received the Souvenir Jacques Goddet. The race then descended through Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Pierrefitte-Nestalas to begin the category 3 Côte de Cauterets, a climb with a 5% gradient, before finishing in Cauterets itself.