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
-
Rwanda Road World Championships - Riders to watch in the elite women's individual time trial
Can Marlen Reusser finally take the rainbow jersey in hilly race against the clock on the streets of Kigali -
Tour de Luxembourg: Romain Grégoire takes first leader's jersey with stage 1 victory
Frenchman out-paces Marijn van den Berg and Marc Hirschi on opening stage -
Arnaud De Lie delivers sprint victory into Namur at Grand Prix de Wallonie
Emilien Jeannière and Biniam Girmay follow for second, third positions as late attack by Victor Lafay falls short -
Tour of Slovakia: Paul Magnier best in bunch sprint for stage 1 victory
Lukáš Kubiš and Joppe Heremans sprint to podium spots
