Stage 10: Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, 194.5km, high mountains
The boys rested up yesterday and will be punished for that slothfulness today … the set piece of the stage is the hors catégorie Col du Grand Colombier – a long, hard 17.4km at 7.1% – the first time this particular peak has been ridden in the Tour. There are some steep ramps mixed with false flats on this climb, which should provide plenty of potential for the opportunistic to make a break for it. A short, sharp descent from the summit leads straight into the Cat 3 Col de Richemond, before another 20km downhill to the finish.
Not for the faint-hearted, this stage should see plenty of attacks as the climbers seek victory and the GC contenders look to claw back time lost to Bradley Wiggins in the time trial. Vincenzo Nibali might find this stage to his liking, as he can attack on the climbs and then descend like a stone, in a scary fearless way. Don’t be surprised if he forms a temporary alliance with Cadel Evans in a bid to gap Wiggins.
Cycling the Alps’ interactive videos of the route can be found here.
Link: Official website