When: Tuesday, July 17

Where: Val d’Isere-Briancon

Length: 159km

DESCRIPTION

After the first rest day at Tiognes, the race descends out of the Vanoise National Park. Two of the highest cols ever used in the Tour de France appear on the route of today’s stage – the 2,770 metre Col de l’Iseran and the 2,645 metre Col du Galibier.

The summit of the Galibier is a full 39km from the finish, meaning that any breakaways or attacks can be reeled in before Briancon. There will be fireworks on the stage, and the winner will simply be the best climber on the day… Will Michael Rasmussen hang on to the leader’s jersey today? Or will the Astana duo of Alexandre Vinokourov and Andreas Kloden make a stunning rest-day recovery to go on the rampage?

CW STAGE RATING

Scenery: 10/10

Difficulty: 8/10

Impact on overall: 8/10

ROUTE DETAILS

Km, Location, ETA, Feature

0, VAL D’ISERE, 12:30, START

15, Col de l’Iseran, 13:16, Climb hors-category

33.5, Le Villaron, 13:34, Sprint

60, Bramans, 14:08, Sprint

72, Modane, 14:26, Feed zone

99, Col du Telegraphe, 15;21, Climb cat 1

122, Col du Galibier, 16:15, Climb hors-category

159.5, BRIANON, 17:01, FINISH

Click here for full details of this year’s Tour de France route, teams and riders