The Tour de France returns to Toulouse on Wednesday for Stage 11, a 156.8-kilometre loop that both starts and finishes in the southwestern city. After the race’s first rest day, riders will confront a cumulative elevation gain of roughly 1,750 metres on terrain that race director Christian Prudhomme calls emblematic of the organisers’ effort to make so-called flat stages more selective. Key difficulties include five categorised climbs, culminating in the Côte de Pech David just eight kilometres from the line. The ascent averages 12.4% and briefly touches gradients of 20%, a feature Prudhomme says could favour break-away specialists and “puncheurs” over pure sprinters. Earlier obstacles such as Castelnau-d’Estrétefonds and Vieille-Toulouse are expected to sap riders’ legs before the decisive ramp. The stage is scheduled for a 13:15 departure and an estimated 17:05 finish, with live national television coverage beginning just before noon. Local authorities have warned of traffic disruptions across the Haute-Garonne as the race caravan, support vehicles and spectators converge on the ‘Ville Rose.’