Tour to see classification shuffle today, says Armstrong

Lance Armstrong and Geraint Thomas, Tour de France 2010, stage 7

The Tour de France classification will be re-shaped in today's stage to Morzine-Avoriaz, according to seven-time winner Lance Armstrong.

"The key is La Ramaz, which is the climb before Morzine. It is very difficult, there are patches with eight, nine, 10 per cent," explained Armstrong. "There will be selection, it won't be like today [Saturday - Ed.]"

Yesterday, Armstrong finished in a group with Sky's Bradley Wiggins and the other overall favourites behind race winner Sylvain Chavanel. Frenchman Chavanel took the leader's yellow jersey and leads the race by 1'25" over Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and 1'55" over Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).

Luxembourg's Schleck is the highest place classification rider with Evans, while Armstrong sits 1'21" behind Schleck. Therefore, Schleck's Saxo Bank team manager, Bjarne Riis, plans a defensive race.

"I see no reason to ride [on the offensive]," said Riis. "The Tour de France is still long and we are in a good position with Andy, which is the most important [aspect] right now."

Today's 189-kilometre stage to Morzine-Avoriaz is the first of six high-mountain stages in this year's Tour de France.

The stage features two category four climbs in the first half, but the meat of the stage is in the rears: La Ramaz, Les Gets and Avoriaz. Both La Ramaz and Avoriaz are over 1600 metres in altitude and 13 kilometres in length.

Tour de France 2010: Latest news

Sky's objective clear ahead of Tour's high mountains

The Feed Zone (July 10): Tour de France news and views

Thomas: 'Yellow jersey would be unbelievable

Analysis: The role of Renshaw

Cavendish strikes back in Tour de France

Thomas happy with Tour's white jersey; but says 'All for Brad'

Wiggins crashes on Tour stage start

Cavendish and Farrar return to top

Cavendish keeps up fight for first Tour win

Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure

Tour de France 2010: Stage reports

Stage seven: Chavanel wins stage and takes overall as Thomas drops out of Tour's white

Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up

Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour

Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims

Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC

Stage three live coverage: As it happened

Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa

Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters

Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win

Tour de France 2010: Photos

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one gallery

Prologue photo gallery

Tour de France 2010: Videos

Stage seven video highlights

Stage six video highlights

Stage five video highlights

Stage four video highlights

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Prologue video highlights

Tour de France 2010: Race guide

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Official start list, with race numbers

Brits at the Tour 2010

Tout team guide

Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Pictures

Tour team presentation, Rotterdam

Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special

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