Stage 9 of Tour de France 2017 was touted as a ‘brutal’ stage – one with seven categorised climbs, three of which were HCs: the Col de la Biche, Colombier and Mont du Chat, all with harrowing descents in one way or another. It was not only brutal, it was cruel and bad-tempered and a stage I’m sure the majority of the peloton would like to forget. The complexion of the race has changed completely at the end of this harsh day.