The Tour has reached Eastern France after a series of flat stages, and therefore, it is time for some hills again. We're in the region of the Vosges mountains with three small but difficult climbs to master: the Col de la Schlucht (8.9 km at 4.1 percent), the Col du Platzerwasel (8.7 km at 7.6 percent) and the Col du Firstplan (8.4 km at 5.4 percent).
These look harmless on paper, but could reveal themselves as treacherous for the general classification contenders - remember when Lance Armstrong got isolated from his teammates back in the 2005 Tour's stage 8? That was on the Col de la Schlucht.
Vaughters' views
This will be a great stage to watch, as it will be unpredictable and dynamic, I just don’t quite know who will win…
-
Vuelta a España stage 2 LIVE: GC action expected on the first summit finish of the race
The peloton heads into the Alps on the second stage of the race for a summit finish at Limone Piemonte -
'GC a key step but winning would be the biggest success' - Tom Pidcock makes stage victories in Vuelta a España main priority
Briton takes ninth in opening sprint, aiming for summit finish on Sunday -
'I'll give it a shot' - Trailblazing Monegasque rider Victor Langellotti ready to challenge for Vuelta a España first summit finish on stage 2
The Ineos Grenadiers rider was a recent surprise winner on a similar finale in the Tour de Pologne -
'I've got a set of boxers, a set of socks, so it's no stress' - Finlay Pickering unfazed by last-minute plunge into Grand Tour debut at Vuelta a España
22-year-old Briton super-late substitute for injured Bahrain Victorious teammate Damiano Caruso
