When the riders get to Grenoble, they know the road ahead is going to be tough - you've arrived in the Alps. It's a shock to the system after a transfer from Mulhouse straight into the thick of it; stage 10 finishes in Courchevel atop a 22.2km climb at 6.2%. Before then, however, there's the 20.1km, 6% Cormet-de-Roselend which peaks at the 118km mark. Chances are there'll be more sprinters dropping out along the way, but for those that tough it out there are two intermediate sprint points to take something out of what will be a hard day. The flat run to the first climb is perfectly suited to an attack from Armstrong, as he winds up the pace at the base of Cormet-de-Roselend and hits the GC hard. We'll see who can stay with him this year - with T-Mobile's Alexandre Vinokourov in great form, and Ivan Basso believing 2005 may be his year, Armstrong won't have it his own way - prepare for the battle as the lines are drawn!
-
Wout van Aert has a wild ride during Paris-Roubaix reconnaissance - Video
Belgian suffers a puncture and nearly crashes in the Arenberg Forest -
As it happened: Change in leadership at Itzulia Basque Country as stage won with successful solo attack
The peloton tackles the mountainous 169.6km race from Beasain to Markina-Xemein -
Itzulia Basque Country: João Almeida rides away from rivals on final climb to deliver solo stage 4 victory, takes overall race lead
UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Isaac del Toro takes second from chase-group sprint, Maximilian Schachmann finishes third and loses leader's jersey to Almeida -
'Paris-Roubaix is like being in a washing machine' - Filippo Ganna revs his engine during final cobbled recon ride
Italian leads Ineos Grenadiers in his final Classic of the spring
