Stage win = Tour win?
The Tour has climbed Plateau de Beille three times and on each occasion, the stage winner has gone on to claim the yellow jersey in Paris. Will today's winner follow Marco Pantani (1998), Lance Armstrong (2002) and Alberto Contador (2007)? They just might, thanks to the five categorised climbs that precede the final summit ascent. At almost 16km and with a gradient just below 8 per cent, the final climb is long and tough enough for the leaders to overhaul any breakaways and dispute the day's spoils between them. The podium contenders should become clear today.
Details –
Distance: 168.5 km
Highest point: 1,570m
Category: High mountains
Sean Yates says...
"This stage could be decisive one way or another. Assuming that Contador will ride, based on what we've seen at the Giro, his team won't be the strongest, so he'll be under major pressure on a day like today if Leopard go on the attack early."
Stage map
Stage profile
-
'I am very disappointed' – No more cyclo-cross battles with Mathieu van der Poel as Wout van Aert to undergo surgery after crash in Mol
Van Aert and Van der Poel’s last match of 2026 was due at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Zonhoven on Sunday -
Exact Cross Mol: Mathieu van der Poel conquers snowy conditions to take another victory after Wout van Aert crashes heavily
Belgian abandoned race after catching world champion but crashing in his wheel, as Aerts and Orts finish on podium -
All the new WorldTour team kits for 2026 – UAE Team Emirates, SD Worx-Protime, NSN Cycling and more
Rounding up all the reveals and new designs so far -
Exact Cross Mol: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado back to her best in the snow for first victory of the season
Dutch rider attacks away from Manon Bakker at the end of lap four, before soloing to the win in wintry conditions
