More high mountains in this stage which, despite being just 156 kilometres in length, should prove to be one of the toughest of this year's Tour. Despite a reasonably flat start, the stage finishes with the legendary ascents of the Col du Tourmalet and Hautacam. This stage should see some real gaps appear between the overall contenders as the favourites for victory in Paris start to show themselves.
Outside Paris and Bordeaux, Pau is the most-visited town for the Tour de France, featuring on the course no less than 61 times before. The first time was in 1930 too, meaning that have only been ten Tours since then that haven't called in at Pau. Last year – as this – the city was host to a stage start and a rest day, but the last time a stage finished here, in 2006, Spain's Juan Manuel Mercado (Agritubel) bested Cyril Dessel (Ag2r) in a two-up sprint. The Frenchman was consoled though by taking the yellow jersey for a few days.
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Race director Mauro Vegni accepts that Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaad are not expected to ride the Corsa Rosa -
Toon Aerts wins Cyclocross Otegem in closing sprint
Belgian beats Laurens Sweeck and Joran Wyseure to victory -
Here's Tom Pidcock's new team bike for 2025, and here's why we don't think he'll use it
While the new Scott Addict RC Ultimate is impressively light, the Scott Foil is so aero we suspect it will be reserved for the high mountains only -
Sanne Cant takes solo victory at Cyclocross Otegem
Belgian beats Aniek van Alphen and Marion Norbert Riberolle to the win
