The Tour's longest stage is an opportunity for strong riders with the ability to kick at the finish to come out and make their presence felt after days dominated by the climbers and GC heavyweights. Look for McEwen to be back in the thick of it, and Thor Hushovd to spread his wings after tough days hanging out the back up the climbs. With two cat 3 and cat 4 cols, this stage is surprisingly tough due to its distance and the regularity of the smaller climbs. There won't be much movement on GC as riders in with a shot at the overall title will take the opportunity to relax before the final time trial and the run into Paris.
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UCI, Alpecin-Deceuninck to pursue bidon thrower 'so that such behaviour is severely punished'
Mathieu van der Poel's team: 'misbehaviour of a few individuals can have far-reaching consequences' -
'Without you, I would probably have stopped my career' – Remco Evenepoel thanks wife Oumi in emotional post ahead of return from 'dark period'
Olympic champion primed for first race since October at Friday's Brabantse Pijl after 'the hardest battle of my life so far' -
What's next for Paris-Roubaix's protagonists? – Van der Poel ends Classics campaign as Pogačar heads to favoured terrain in the Ardennes
Dutchman and world champion not set to face off again until Tour de France in July after historic trio of one-day duels -
Sigrid Haugset finished Paris-Roubaix with fractured hip after crash with 60km to go
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