This year’s race will hold its first ever time trial with a summit finish and it should be a corker. The course uses the first 90 per cent of the 2006 TT’s route but with a vicious sting in the tail – the 2.7km, 290m climb up Metcalf Road, averaging a leg-sapping 10.6 per cent.
A closer look at the terrain and weather reveals that this is really two separate time trials in one, and therein lies the dilemma. The first 29km are rolling or flat, then there’s that pesky climb. Then consider that the 12km to the base of the climb will most likely be ridden into a tough headwind and it is clear that aerodynamics will be as important as ever in a TT. But an aerodynamic bike and riding position aren’t ideal for climbing fast, especially on a steep slope.
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As it happened: major GC shake-up at Critérium du Dauphiné as race heads into the mountains
Tadej Pogačar blasts away on final climb to clinch impressive solo victory and lead -
Best triathlon watches: One-stop recording of your race
The best triathlon watches will give you easy transitions between legs as well as multisport tracking -
Tour de Suisse Women: Long solo attack lands Amber Kraak victory on stage 2
Marta Lach second, Elise Chabbey third while Marlen Reusser sixth and retains GC lead -
Critérium du Dauphiné: Tadej Pogačar decimates field on stage 6 to take overall race lead
Jonas Vingegaard distances Remco Evenepoel on summit finish
