Like last year, by making the Pyrenean stages tough but not too tough, Christian Prudhomme’s intention in the Alps is to bring likely contenders to the fore but not give any of them the chance to blow the race apart.
In order to keep the battle for yellow simmering nicely, this stage avoids the big passes for something far less arduous but intriguing nevertheless.
The Laffrey is one of the Tour’s oldest climbs, first featuring in 1905. The road into the finish comes down the Rochette descent where Joseba Beloki crashed and forced Lance Armstrong to divert across a mountain meadow in 2003. It adds up to an ideal day for a breakaway.
Stage profile
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'I'll give it a shot' - trailblazing Monaco pro Victor Langellotti ready to challenge for Vuelta a España first summit finish on stage 2
Ineos Grenadiers racer was a recent surprise winner on a similar finale in 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 -
'It's never as easy as it looks' - Jasper Philipsen's rollercoaster 2025 season continues with fourth stage win and first lead in the Vuelta a España
Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter bounces back after crashing out of Tour de France -
The current GC standings at the Vuelta a España 2025
Jasper Philipsen leads the race overall after he took the victory on the opening stage in Italy
