Albertville – La Toussuire-Les Sybelles
Distance: 148km
Highest point: 2,067m
Category: High mountains
A day for the big guns
It may have become a hackneyed phrase but it’s certainly apt to describe this as a day when the Tour can’t be won but can certainly be lost. The only day in the heart of the Alps also features the first high mountain finish, at the resort where Michael Rasmussen won in 2006. It’s a stage that is cut out for specialist climbers. The Madeleine and the Croix de Fer, which is tackled via the Glandon, are both very tough 2,000-metre passes that will sap everyone’s reserves. The riders will have to take care on the descent of the Mollard, where the hairpins are tightly packed. The finish will reveal the real GC contenders.
Allan Peiper: "This is a very typical Tour de France stage and most of the climbs have been ridden before. Mountain top finishes are the only chances that the climbers who don’t time trial that well can get some gaps before the final stages."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
-
E-bike Live: An in-depth Q&A with Jamie Burrow and Toby Pantling
Industry experts answer our burning questions, such as are e-bikes cheating and what does the future hold for e-bikes -
USA Cycling Professional Road Championships 2021 – Preview
Howes, McCabe, Ian Garrison defend men's titles across three disciplines, while Neben and Winder return for women -
How do electric bikes work?
The e-bike is growing in popularity but what are the technical concepts and limitations, and how does it all work? -
Michael Woods, not Chris Froome, to lead Israel Start-Up Nation at Tour de France
Team confirm that Canadian will head GC challenge in France
