The Tour’s decisive stages start with a tough test that begins easily enough but has two tasty peaks to spice up the closing kilometres.
The Port de Pailhères didn’t feature before 2003 but has become a Tour favourite. It ramps up severely over a series of hairpins towards the summit, from where there’s a rapid descent into Ax-les-Thermes to the foot of the final climb.
Ax-3 Domaines isn’t long and not overly difficult but the main contenders’ speed here should result in some significant time gaps.
Stage profile
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UCI Gravel World Series – Romain Bardet and Erica Magnaldi sweep up solo victories after attacking on the climbs of Monsterrando Gravel
Nicole Frain and Petr Vakoč come second from among packed field of core Italian qualifier -
Mathieu van der Poel shifts focus to mountain bike with Les Gets a tune-up for MTB World Championships
Dutchman finishes second overall in the Renewi Tour -
Deutschland Tour: Søren Wærenskjold seals overall victory
Matthew Brennan powers to stage win in crash-marred finale -
As it happened: Bunch sprint on summit finish sees GC contenders come to the fore
The peloton heads into the Alps on the second stage of the race for a summit finish at Limone Piemonte
