Crunch day in the Alps
Five-ascent monster stage
Today's stage is a constant up and down through the high mountains of the Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Five classified climbs are on the menu from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand: the Cormet de Roselend (18 km at 6.1 percent), the Col des Saisies (15.1 km at 6 percent), the Côte d'Arâches (6.3 km at 7 percent), the Col de Romme (8.8 km at 8.9 percent) and the Col de la Colombière (7.5 km at 8.5 percent).
The last two climbs will be the most difficult as the ascent to the Colombière will be spiced up by the Col de Romme climb, which makes its first appearance in the Tour. Lance Armstrong took his third consecutive stage win in Le Grand-Bornand in 2004, and Germany's Linus Gerdemann won there in 2007 to take the yellow jersey. This will be a hard, long day for any rider in the peloton.
See full-size map and profile.
Vaughters' views
It’s a day that will require you to be on the ball all day long. One bad moment or misjudgment by a top GC rider, and its all over.
By this point in the Tour the top five or six guys will most always be the same when the real selection is made. The grupetto will be much larger, and many will be just thinking of Paris.
This is also the ideal day to win the final polka dot jersey if it’s still up for grabs. A long break by a sturdy and recovered climber could turn the polka dot standing around at the buzzer.
My stage winner prediction? Tough to say, but if his descending skills are back to norm, I think this might be the stage that goes to seven-time winner, Lance Armstrong.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Tour de France 2025 – The comprehensive team-by-team guide
Cyclingnews takes you through the riders and objectives of all 23 teams lining up in Lille this Satuday -
Prize money of the 2025 Tour de France
There's over €2.5 million up for grabs this July, and plenty of ways to earn a slice of it -
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe take inspiration from France's football team for bright new Tour de France kit
Primož Roglič and teammates will take on Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel at the Tour in tricolor-style jerseys and blue shorts -
'Winning a stage would make my career feel complete' – Neilson Powless and EF Education-EasyPost bypass GC to focus on stage triumphs at Tour de France
American squad announce battle-hardened line-up of stage hunters for Tour, including Powless, Kasper Asgreen and Ben Healy