Coming off a rest day the riders have a short stage filled with mountains. Not just any mountains but colossal mountains including the most ancient pass of the Western Alps, the Col du Grand Saint Bernard. The last time this great climb was used in the Tour de France was 43 years ago. With a length of 24.4 km the riders will surely struggle as they did when they rode it the first time in 1966.

The Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard goes well above the tree line and the lake at the top is frozen 265 days a year. At the top is a hostel but at a height of 2,469m the idea of breathing, even while sleeping, could be difficult.  After a long 33km descent the riders will then tackle the next climb which could be considered its brother or perhaps cousin.

The Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard has had some of the great Tour’s past climbers summit it first. Bartali, Gismondi, and Bahamontes all led over this 22.6km climb and in this year’s edition the riders will plummet straight down for a downhill finish towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

It was here in 1996, on Stage 8, that Miguel Indurain, after winning five Tours, lost his grip on a sixth win. Normally, completely dominate in the time trial Indurain placed 5th after losing more than four minutes the day before on an uphill finish to Les Arcs.  It was the start to the end of Indurain’s dominance and hopefully the finish this year, in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, will not result in disaster for the yellow jersey wearer.