The end of the beginning
This stage marks the halfway point of the Tour but the sprinters will have already past most of their winning opportunities. After today, the only two stages where they will be expecting to get a look-in are in Montpellier and 11 days down the line on the Champs-Elysées. Consequently, it will be a surprise if they allow this stage to elude them. That said, there will be many baroudeurs who have come up with a similar assessment of their own prospects, unless they are the kind of breakaway specialist who can stay the pace on seriously big climbs. A bunch finish… probably.
Details -
Distance: 167.5 km
Highest point: 346m
Category: Flat
Bernhard Eisel says...
"The last stage before the Pyrenees and that always means breaks. For us, there's a balance to be struck because we'll have Tony Martin for GC. We'll want him to have an easy day if possible, so I'll be busy trying to enlist help from elsewhere."
Stage map
Stage profile
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Rain jacket mistake ends Roglic’s lead in Vuelta a España
Rivals take advantage and punish Jumbo-Visma leader -
Hindley: Sunweb didn’t put a foot wrong at the Giro d’Italia
Australian vows to return to ‘beautiful and brutal’ race -
Winning the Giro d'Italia is 'like a strange dream' for Geoghegan Hart
Briton beats Hindley to claim maglia rosa at the last in Milan -
Dan Martin holds podium place on brutal Vuelta a España stage
Irishman slips to third but puts time into Roglič
