This mountainous stage departed from Pau and headed south-east through Aressy, Assat, Boeil-Bezing, Igon and Lestelle-Bétharram to Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre. The route then turned east through Peyrouse to Lourdes. After turning south-west to Agos-Vidalos and then south through Argelès-Gazost, Pierrefitte and Sassis to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the riders began the climb through Barèges to the Hors catégorie Col du Tourmalet at . Descending east and then north through La Mongie to Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, the riders then turned south-east to begin the climb through La Séoube for the Category 1 Col d'Aspin to , with a descent to Arreau. The riders then began climbing south through Bordères-Louron, continuing south and then east to the Category 1 Col de Peyresourde at . The final descent was east through Garin to Luchon, before the Hors catégorie climb to the ski station of Superbagnères at .