ÉVAUX-LES-BAINS > LE LIORAN
Wednesday, 10 July | 211km | Start: 10:30 Finish: 16:12
With a final 50 kilometres that is nearly a carbon copy of an exhilarating stage in 2016, stage 11 is probably one for the breakaway, but danger also lurks for the GC men.
Today’s route It’s a relatively benign opening 150km as the peloton crosses through the majestic Massif Central. But the calmness will almost definitely precede a storm with four categorised climbs jammed into the final hourand-a-bit of racing that features a gradual rise in elevation to the finish line at
1,242 metres above sea level.
The Col de Néronne (3.8km at 9.1%) is a mere warm-up to the volcanic first-category
Puy Mary where the final two kilometres average 12%. A fast descent is followed by the Col de Pertus (4.4km at 7.9%) with some bonus seconds over the top, then the final climb of the Col de Font de Cère (3.3km at 5.8%). The finish line is 2.8km further on from the summit although not categorised as a climb in its own right.
What to expect It’s likely there will be a big battle to get into the day’s break, but not until after the intermediate sprint at 56km. As soon as the categorised climbs begin, so will the attacks.
With 4,350m of elevation gain, it’s one of the most climb-laden stages of the entire race, and the roads of the Massif Central are not as wide, straight or smooth as the rest of France. All of which means the GC riders and their hard-working team-mates need to be switched on all day. Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Emirates team-mates are most likely to be on the front today.
Riders to watch Today could offer a consolation prize to any unlucky riders whose overall ambitions already lie in tatters. Similarly, it’s tailor-made for three rising French stars: Valentin Madouas (Groupama-fdj), Alex Zingle (Cofidis) and Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéab&b Hotels).