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.
-
Tadej Pogačar's training: What sessions does the three-time Tour de France champion do?
Calculating the world champion's training zones -
'I've reached another level' - Adam Yates eyes Giro d'Italia GC fight in 2025
UAE Team Emirates leader to return to Italian Grand Tour after eight-year absence -
Remco Evenepoel targets return on bike in February following training crash
'We're aiming for mid-April to really start competing again' says Belgian as he recovers from multiple fractures following dooring incident -
Where are they now? Team Sky's 2012 Tour de France-winning team
The key figures of the history-making British squad, over a decade on from their era-dawning victory
