The focus of this stage will be the legendary Col d'Aubisque, which represents the final hors categorie climb of the Tour - the mountains aren't finished yet, but Aubisque represents the end of some 'extreme' climbing for riders. Armstrong took the yellow jersey on the back of this climb in 2002 - this occurred earlier in the race, and he went on to dominate the remainder of the Tour after hitting his competition hard in these opening mountain exchanges. In 2005 the situation may well be different, or we could find Armstrong placing a stranglehold on the overall lead leading to a seventh victory - who knows? Either way it's going to be a fight amongst the main GC contenders with a couple of strongmen thrown in; the German has been quiet since his early season success and is primed for a strong Tour performance.
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Australia's Rebecca Henderson takes 13th consecutive elite cross-country mountain bike national title, New Zealand's Anton Cooper makes it an 11th
A first elite men's Australian XCO title for 20-year-old Jack Ward as three-time winner Samara Shepherd claims women's sliver fern jersey in New Zealand -
Luke Lamperti and Kate Courtney plan debuts at The Growler road race in April - North American Roundup
Applications open through April 3 for EuroCrossAcademy summer camps; Mexico's César Macías earns silver medal at Pan American Road Championships -
UCI Gravel World Series: Nicole Frain best in three-rider women's sprint while Jarno Bellens goes solo to win elite men's race at Turnhout Gravel
Anne Knijnenburg edges out Wendy Oosterwoud as runner-up -
Former Tour de France runner-up and multiple Grand Tour champion Nairo Quintana announces retirement for end of season
Veteran Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España winner, 36, set to quit after 16 seasons
