If yesterday was hard, stage six is even tougher. The road starts to rise straight after the start in Fiesch and then after 23 kilometres the gradient kicks up for the start of the hors categorie Furkapass. It tops out 40.1 kilometres into the stage at an altitude of 2436 metres and then after a 20 kilometre descent the riders will move onto the category one Oberalppass. This too is over 2,000 metres in height.
Once over the summit, the riders have a long descent and then some lumpy roads leading to the bonus sprints at Tiefencastel and Bergün (170 and 190 km). The second of these is at the base of the day’s final climb, the hors categorie Albulapass, which tops out at 2315 metres and which will decimate the lead group. There is just ten kilometres from the top to the finish, meaning that any sizeable gaps over the top will remain.
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Tour of the Gila: Lauren Stephens and Eric Brunner set the GC markers on stage 1 with Tyrone time trial victories
Defending women's champion Stephens dominates ITT with one minute margin over 17-year-old runner-up Sidney Swierenga -
'I suffered because of the cold' - Miserable weather affects Thibau Nys' debut performance at Flèche Wallonne
'I was too hot and then too cold again. That really affected my legs, very early in the final' Lidl-Trek rider finishes 8th despite discomfort in rain-soaked Huy -
'I blew up a little bit' - Elisa Longo Borghini lands podium at Flèche Wallonne and gains confidence for Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Italian Champion holds off Niewiadoma-Phinney for third place on Mur de Huy final ascent to finish -
Ruth Edwards wins first Pan American Championship title at individual time trial
Emily Ehrlich adds silver in ITT for USA to pair of gold medals from Track Pan Ams
