Tour De France / Tobias Gourlay / 19 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Tobias Gourlay chases the grimpeurs into Switzerland.

The Tour makes a beeline for Switzerland today and, after 208km, will end up in the Alpine town of Verbier, a summit finish that makes up the day's second Category One climb. There are lots of Category Three ascents in the first half of the stage and a Category Two in the second half. Nothing spectacularly difficult here but cumulatively tough enough for specialist climbers to feel this might be an opportunity to take time out of those rivals who prefer time-trialling. There is a rest day tomorrow, which should encourage would-be attackers to make an extra effort today.

Alberto Contador is a [4.2] favourite to win today and a [1.31] shot to don the yellow jersey this evening for the first time. Andy Schleck, the young Saxo Bank rider who much prefers the mountains to going 'contre la montre' is second favourite at [10.5]. Then there are David Moncoutie and Franco Pellizotti (both [17.0]); neither are seriously competing for the maillot jaune, but both are formidable climbers.

If the main GC contenders delay their attacks until late on the final climb, then the early breakaway artists have a good chance of a stage win. If someone like Carlos Sastre ([19.5]) goes off at the bottom of that climb, the baroudeurs will likely be caught and the starting price on Contador, the best climber in the world, will look big.