Tourmalet sides don't differ much but the west side but isn't consistently steep until the final 1.5km. That stage does likely have too much easy terrain before Cauterets too early in the race though.
Yes, I agree. I think in the last week a stage like Luchon - Cauterets could work really well. Peyresourde - Val Louron Azet - Hourquette d'Ancizan - Tourmalet - Cauterets (Cambasque) seems really a stage I would like to see. Immediately uphill from the start for having a strong break/ surprises with top 10 GC riders with a difficult start. Tired legs already when starting the Tourmalets and incentive to attack early (hard climb - easy climb combo). But with just Tourmalet and Cauterets it's probably the wrong kind of stage for being stage 5. No incentive to already take risk on Tourmalet. A lot of teams still with a rider close in the GC and helpers with fresh legs.