The 5th stage of the 2023 Tour de France, mirroring the Pau-Laruns stage of 2020, marks the first mountain stage of the race. Spanning 162.7 km and featuring nearly 3,700 vertical meters, it promises a challenging day for the riders. The stage begins in Pau, a frequent host in Tour de France history, and includes significant climbs such as the Col de Soudet and the brutal Col de Marie Blanque. The latter is a 7.7 km climb with an average gradient of 8.6% and sections reaching up to 13%. With mostly cloudy skies and potential light precipitation expected, the stage is set to be a true test of the riders' climbing abilities and could potentially shake up the general classification.
