Tour de France riders brace for arduous climb

France's Thibaut Pinot, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, and Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, wait for the start of the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 145.5 km with start in Pau and finish in Hautacam, Pyrenees region, France, Thursday, July 24, 2014.

Riders have set out on Stage 18 of the Tour de France, which reaches its final day of mountain racing with the yellow jersey securely on the shoulders of Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali.

Thursday’s stage sees the 166 remaining riders tackle the intimidating Tourmalet mountain, which is the highest Pyrenean peak in this year’s Tour.

The last tenth of the 145.5-km stage involves the ascension of Hautacam, a climb so arduous it’s classified as beyond category.

Nibali has a 5 minute and 26 second lead over Alejandro Valverde of Spain. France’s Thibaut Pinot is third, 6-00 behind.