Long haul into the hills as Tour hits first mountains
Contador to take control?
- Race Home
-
Stages
-
Stage 115.5km | Monaco - Monaco (ITT)
-
Stage 2187km | Monaco - Brignoles
-
Stage 3196.5km | Marseille - La Grande-Motte
-
Stage 439km | Montpellier - Montpellier (TTT)
-
Stage 5196.5km | Le Cap d'Agde - Perpignan
-
Stage 6181.5km | Gérone - Barcelone
-
Stage 7224km | Barcelone - Andorre Arcalis
-
Stage 8176.5km | Andorre-la-Vieille - Saint-Girons
-
Stage 9160.5km | Saint-Gaudens - Tarbes
-
Rest dayLimoges -
-
Stage 10194.5km | Limoges - Issoudun
-
Stage 11192km | Vatan - Saint-Fargeau
-
Stage 12211.5km | Tonnerre - Vittel
-
Stage 13200km | Vittel - Colmar
-
Stage 14199km | Colmar - Besançon
-
Stage 15207.5km | Pontarlier - Verbier
-
Rest dayVerbier -
-
Stage 16159km | Martigny - Bourg-Saint-Maurice
-
Stage 17169.5km | Bourg-Saint-Maurice - Le Grand-Bornand
-
Stage 1840.5km | Annecy - Annecy (ITT)
-
Stage 19178km | Bourgoin-Jallieu - Aubenas
-
Stage 20167km | Montélimar - Mont Ventoux
-
Stage 21164km | Montereau-Fault-Yonne - Paris Champs-Élysées
- View all Stages
-
- Route
- Contenders
- History
- Start list
Here we go: the first mountain stage of this year's Tour de France. For all 224 kilometres of today's ride, the roads will be uphill - save for the descent of the first of the two climbs, the Port d'Oliana, a 7.7km-mountain averaging 7.1 percent gradient. Afterwards, it will be a long drag up to the tiny Principality of Andorra and its ski station, the first of three mountain top finishes of this year's Tour.
The last time the Tour came to Arcalis, in 1997, Jan Ullrich broke away solo on the final stretch to the summit (10.6km at 7.1 percent) and lay the foundations for his later overall win. Today, the GC favourites should come out of their hiding places in the pack and put their climbing legs to the test. Spanish climbers will be especially motivated to score the victory in a bid for the polkadot - or the yellow jersey.
Vaughters' views
It’s a painful grind through the tough and hot Catalan countryside, finishing with the climb where Ullrich decimated the field in 1997.
Arcalis is not an overly steep climb, but the kilometers before its start and the heat will lend themselves to a selective day. Steepest at the bottom, look for an elite selection very quickly on Arcalis, and then attacks, chasing and hesitation a bit further up.
Sastre, Contador, Andy Schleck and Evans should all be in the mix. Sometimes Menchov suffers in the heat, so this could be a hard day for him.
All said and done, I have to say I think Contador is the favourite, once again.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'A free mind equals fast legs' – How my mental state helped me wear the yellow jersey for two days at an unforgettable Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
In Luke Tuckwell's latest column for Cyclingnews, he recalls his memorable week in France, and how he went from tears in training to his first yellow jersey -
Tour de France prize money explained: What is at stake for the 2026 edition?
Over €2.5 million in prize money up for grabs this July, and plenty of ways to earn a slice of it -
American Criterium Cup: New Zealand riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints
Bryony Botha and George Jackson win second stop of ACC and score titles across 11-day regional racing calendar at Tour of America's Dairyland -
Giant overhauls gravel range with two new bikes and a suite of gravel components
Just when we thought the gravel releases were over for the year, Giant has released a slew of new gravel products



