This stage is made for an escape artist in the style of Laurent Jalabert - or whoever takes his place in this year's peloton - who was able to push hard enough on the climbs to get away. The finish is atop Cote de la Croix-Neuve, a brutally steep climb of 10.1% for 3.1km after climbing the Cote de Chabrits, a cat 3 short climb of 1.7km with a tough 7.1% gradient. Michael Boogerd and Alexandre Vinokourov could both be in the mix for a win on this stage within the Massif Central - look for some shuffles on GC as riders tire after 10 days of climbing, and the final selection is made before the race against the clock.
TOPICS
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Reflections from Milan-San Remo – Pogačar overcomes the chaos, prefers focaccia to a 2027 return, Bignut McNulty, and praise for Van der Poel and Pedersen
Stephen Farrand reflects from San Remo on how Pogačar came back from adversity to make this year's Milan-San Remo one of the greatest races of all time -
'If you don't take risk, it's not topsport' – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney gives injury update following Milan-San Remo Women crash
Italian racer Debora Silvestri sustains five broken ribs and a fractured shoulder in Cipressa descent pile-up -
Sophia Sammons claims final stage of Q Tour and ProVelo Super League women's overall, Oliver Sims clinches men's closing stage but Oliver Bleddyn remains secure in series top spot
Sims and Sammons also takes out Q Tour overall after solo sorties on queen stage -
Crunch time in the Pyrenees for Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock – Analysing the contenders for the 2026 Volta a Catalunya
Still smarting from his recent setback in the UAE Tour mountains, Evenepoel now faces tougher rivals on a far harder course
