With the Alpine stages finally over, the bunch now tackles the final time trial, but three days earlier than usual. A picturesque 40km-loop around the lake of Annecy gives the time trial specialists their last chance to gain time on the climbers, with the final battle still to come on the weekend.
Nevertheless, the course also includes some rolling climbs as it takes the riders into the lakeside hills on the second half of the race against the clock. Every second will count for the general classification.
Vaughters' views
If Cadel Evans or Denis Menchov don’t have any time on Contador, then this is their last chance to get it. With the fast, flat parcours I think the stage will be contested between Fabian Cancellara and our own British duo, David Millar and Brad Wiggins, but the GC battle will be a fun one to watch.
Roman Kreuziger would be a guy I bet moves into the top five on this day with a great performance. I’m guessing Contador rides on par with the rest and leaves it to the Ventoux to decide.
-
'I set the stakes high' - Emma Finucane, British women and Danish men team pursuiters smash world records at European track championships
Lotte Kopecky takes fourth Elimination Race title -
'Maybe it's not a bad idea to skip one winter' - Mathieu van der Poel mulls his future in cyclo-cross after record breaking world title in Hulst
Dutchman takes a cautious approach in securing eighth victory in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships -
'I was never the guy everyone was talking about as the next up-and-comer' – Simon Clarke bids farewell on his own terms after a career marked by resilience
"I'm 40 this year. I feel like I've wrung the towel dry" says Tour de France and Vuelta a España stage winner who pinned a number on for last time at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race -
'We have earned our place - no one can take that away from us' – Tom Pidcock confirms return to Tour de France as leader for Pinarello-Q36.5 debut
Swiss ProTeam earned their way to a place at the 2026 edition mainly thanks to star British rider
