The race stays near the Puy de Dome for a couple of days for today's hilly stage and then tomorrow's flat run north, then east on the continued route to the Alps.
The day after the first rest day is often a tough one to call and this is a stage that is too hard for the pure sprinters but not hard enough to make it a GC contest so could easily be left to the breakaway as some riders seek to ride themselves back into things after the rest day.
[img] 
[/img]
The race has already been through the home of Volvic and today it goes through Perrier, tribute to this volcanic region. The breakaway will know that its got a good chance today which could see a battle royale to get in it so expect a frantic first hour - as for who will win, well it's a very Classics-esque [i]parcours[/i] so MvdP and WvA are the obvious picks but expect Neilson Powless to be in the breakaway collecting more mountain points as well.
Chateaux and castles built on exposed volcanic outcrops and a lot of rolling hills
[img] https://img.aso.fr/core_app/img-cycling-tdf-jpg/et10-slr-auvergne-rho-ne-alpes/44979/0:0,1200:800-600-0-70/691db [/img]
[img] https://img.aso.fr/core_app/img-cycling-tdf-jpg/et10-slr-8-murol-1/44968/0:0,1200:800-600-0-70/d02af [/img]
Outside bet - I'm really hoping that Fred Wright has a go today, he's brilliant on terrain like this and he won't be needed for leadout of Phil Bauhaus on this sort of hilly stage so fingers crossed he's given some leeway.
here to say I hope Fred Wright can finally do it
another warm one
I came here to say Fred Wright only to find I'd been beaten to it not once but twice.
Outside bet – I’m really hoping that Fred Wright has a go today
damn it...beaten to it 3 times 😂
I'm hoping the real MVdP will wake up today
I love it when the Tour goes through an area I know. We stayed in Murol last year and did 4 days of walking and riding. Lovely place, great food.
I'm sure these riders have never had truffade or aligot during the season
Allaphillipe ?? would be great to see begbie back to winning ways although there's nothing form-wise to suggest this...
I’m hoping the real MVdP will wake up today
I think he's ridden a very grown up, unselfish race so far, Phillipsen must count his luck stars, fancy having MVDP as your lead out man!?
I think he’s ridden a very grown up, unselfish race so far
I agree, but thats not what makes him my number 1 man crush
looks very serious in the peloton, no chit chat!
scorchio!
Lol Simon Yates has dragged everyone who's anyone out of the peloton 🙂
Jens Voight on the moto! (eurosport)
He's brilliant. 🙂
Also good to see Ellen van Dijk on the ITV4 commentary team for this week. I was in a queue for coffee in a little coffee shop just north of Wollongong before the Worlds behind her and AvV but I was too star struck to really talk to them other than say best of luck for the road race - which AvV then won so it was clearly all down to me wishing her best of luck. 😉
They were both very friendly though.
Anyway, back to the race - bloody hell it's all on isn't it?! Lots of suffering going on at the back...
Pog has dropped his team mates :/
Yep, blown to smithereens. Break coming back then there'll be another 💥 until it all settles down when an acceptable break forms.
Bardet looked well ill, nasty cough ! 🙁
who's yellow chasing down ? WTF is going on 😕
Normally avoid these (spoilers) but just wanted to pop in before it all goes off to say thanks to the posters who do these threads every time the TdF comes around, sterling work, thank you.
can see one or both of the big 2 blowing up here!
Is this Operation blow up Pog, in the extreme heat of today?
Mohoric and Alaphilippe pushing on, that's a pair of legendary descenders! Amazing to watch them both. Shame Pidcock isn't up there with them!
Mohoric has his dropper post on, he means business!
you'd think so, but then Pog has someone on the front pulling too!
so much for calming down.... this is nuts!
Have they organised a race ice lolly break yet?
i can;t bloody concentrate on work AND a race like this, I'm doing a bad job of both
and so much for us all saying "fred for the win", he's not even made it into the break unless I've missed something
and so much for us all saying “fred for the win”, he’s not even made it into the break unless I’ve missed something
I will convey our collective disappointment in the strongest possible terms.
We're here for Fred, but he's he's not delivering. he cant just coast on the glory of a national champs win 😀
hint of echelons ?
MvdP pulling on the front of the peloton 😕
Wout and MvdP going for the win? Would love to see a shootout between them but it seems unlikely.
As above, would love a shootout before WvA apparently leaves for home tomorrow.
Tom Pidcock has said he's not good in the heat.
A relative in Switzerland texted to say it's 34 degrees in the shade. A heatwave over Europe now.
LOL @ alpecin 😀
I'm glad Millar and Boulting have just asked the same as I was thinking - WTF were Ineos doing on that climb? Got onto the front and rode hard for...absolutely no benefit...?
before WvA apparently leaves for home tomorrow
What's the story there? World champs prep?
Liking the Bilbao interview. Its not just the English, it's his ability to express what was happening at the end of that stage. Lovely
What’s the story there? World champs prep?
wifes expecting
What’s the story there? World champs prep?
His wife is due to give birth, apparently very imminently (like tomorrow or day after!). At the moment it seems to be just a rumour, nothing definite as to whether he'll stay in the race or head home.
Turns out that Ineos were riding to try and safeguard their GC positions - having Bilbao up the front gave him enough time to leapfrog up the GC and push Pidcock down one place while also being right behind Rodriguez.
climbed 6 places in the pointy end of the gc with that ride, Chapeau!
That was a great finish and an Emotional win. It’s always great when a potential GC rider falls back down the standings and then gets a bit of a slingshot in a one stage breakaway. But this was rather special.
Ineos want the yellow helmets. Won’t go with their kit though. Everything to play for on the bottom step of the podium too.