Two stages before a big high mountain weekend and it looks like both could help John Degenkolb add points to his green jersey challenge.

Thursday 4 September: Stage 12, Logrono to Logrono, 168km, flat

Today is a 21km circuit that the peloton will go round eight times – great for spectators! It’s super flat and exactly the same parcours as 2012 when the mighty John Degenkolb sprinted to victory. Smart money would be on him to do that again today. Should be a fast and furious stage.

Friday 5 September: Stage 13, Belorado to Obregon Parque de Cabarceno, medium mountains, 182km

The race is starting to go uphill again and this is a little taster in anticipation of the next three stages, which are all summit finishes. This stage, however, does not have a summit finish, its categorised climbs coming one after the other from midway in the course – two cat 3s and a cat 2, then a descent and flattening out to the finish, but with a big kick up in the last 2km. It’s a sprint finish for a sprinter such as Peter Sagan or, again, still, always, John Degenkolb.

Link: Official website