Grabsch reveals race plan

Milram rider Ralf Grabsch described plans to tackle the upcoming stage 10 on the team's website, http://www.team-milram.com. He expected the long stage to get pretty warm, as currently southern France is suffering from a heat wave that has also sparked several forest fires.

Grabsch thought that it would be a stage where "a group will make it. And I want to be in it for sure." He said he'd try, anyway. "As often as needed, until I can achieve it [to be in a breakaway group]." Grabsch wrote on the team's web site that he'd try every stage now, "with the exception of the Pyrénées. At some point it has to work."

Grabsch has the knowledge of the route "from the Grand Prix Haribo. We crossed the same mountains. They should be pefect for me. The ascents stretch out a bit, but one can go over it with power."

He'd hope that there are about five to ten riders in the group. And that it would contain Jens Voigt (CSC) and José Vicente Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne), "as they are specialists." Other then that he mentioned that the peloton will expect the typical rough, French tarmac and two mountains at the end where a potential group will split apart. "Those will bring the decision."