Tour de France 2018 - Stages 9-11

Introduction
The route has avoided the high mountains so far but it all changes in these next three stages. There are a number of classic climbs included but also some new terrain is explored, especially around Geneva and Annecy. There will be a number of overall favourites who will have had their overall ambitions trampled in the high Alps.

Stage 9 - Geneva - Annecy - 139.1km
We won't break the 1,000m mark on this stage but there is more than 2,000m of vertical ascent. The stage is one of the most beautiful of the whole Tour, starting on the plains of Geneva and rolling into the far Northern Alps before a flying descent into the beautiful lakeside town of Annecy.
Neither of the 2nd category climbs are overly steep but they are long and the positioning of the final climb means that the race will be on at this point so the field will split apart. Don't expect too many fireworks though, the big stages are tomorrow and the next day so the overall contenders are likely to be watchful rather than aggressive so it could be a chance for someone further down the overall standings to take some time back.



Stage 10 - Annecy - Val Claret - 134.9km
Despite starting with almost 60km of flat there is over 4,000m of ascent in the whole stage. The Cormet de Roseland is less sustained from this side but it's slightly longer. As it traverses the edge of the Barrage de Roseland it flattens off substantially before the final kick up to the summit, anyone who is having an off day will be pleased to reach the halfway point but it's an incredibly difficult job to recoup enough energy on that false flat to stay in the wheels until the top.
The descent off the Roseland is fairly technical but the road is reasonably wide and the favourites will have done some reconnaissance of it so don't expect too much drama. From Bourg St Maurice to the base of the final climb there's a slowly rising flat section where the riders will be looking to take on as much energy and drinks as they can. As soon as they hit the climb it's a hideous first few kilometres before you can settle into a rhythm for the mid-section of the climb. The final drag into Tignes is very steep again and previous tours have finished here, however, not in this case. The final few kilometres hugs the edge of the Tignes lake to finish at the slightly higher resort of Val Claret. There's likely to be strong headwind through the valley so expect to see the attackers suffering, if they've made it this far.

Stage 11 - Tignes - Briancon - 173.8km
The peloton will start in Tignes rather than Val Claret and they will be grateful not just of the downhill start but also the fact that the first climb of the day, Col de i'Iseran, will be climbed from halfway up. Despite the favourable start they still have to complete almost 1,000m of vertical ascent from Val d'Isere to the summit of the i'Iseran. Expect to see a breakaway go here because there's then the best part of 70km of descent to the base of the Col de Telegraphe in St Michel-de-Maurienne. From here there's 31km of ascent broken up by the slight descent off the Telegraph. The peloton will really be feeling it at this point, they haven't had an "easy" day for five stages and they're certainly not getting one here. When they do finally make it to the summit of the Galibier they will be presented with a 35km descent to the beautiful fortified city of Briancon. There's one final difficulty however, the ascent into the old town of Briancon. There's two sections to this climb, the first is the arrow straight road which is appallingly steep followed by the cobbled ascent through the old town which is perhaps even steeper and very narrow. If you go too soon on this final climb then all the energy you put in to stay with your rivals on the previous climbs will have been in vain as you leak seconds or even minutes here. Tomorrow is an easier day but it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, as you will see....

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