Calm before the storm
The Alps are reached with a fairly straight forward run through the ruggedly beautiful Drôme region to Gap. The overall contenders will be happy to save themselves for three much-tougher days to come, which all but guarantees a break going early and staying clear all the way to the finish. The road rises steadily all the way until the main difficulty of the day, the 2nd-category Col de Manse. At almost 10km, this climb is long enough to split the lead group. The drop from it into the finish takes in the Rochette descent where Joseba Beloki memorably came to grief in 2003.
TOPICS
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Vuelta a España GC standings – Enric Mas all but seals red jersey, carrying race lead into finale
Spanish rider successfully marks attacks on penultimate stage 20 -
As it happened: triumphant day for the Spanish on climactic stage 20 of the Vuelta a España
La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil, 186.8 km -
Vuelta a España: Enric Mas passes arduous final mountain test to keep red as Mikel Landa soars to stage 20 breakaway victory atop Collado del Alguacil
Tobias Halland Johannessen second, Ramses Debruyne third on the penultimate day of racing -
A Travers les Hauts de France: Nienke Veenhoven fastest in sprint to claim victory in Écourt-Saint-Quentin
Shari Bossuyt second, Lara Gillespie third in bunch sprint
