BMC and Tejay Van Garderen's team director Yvon Ledanois is convinced the battle of the Pyrenees will start for good in this long stage between Carcassonne and Bagneres-de-Luchon, an especially in the Port de Bales, the final climb, and its long descent towards the finish line.

"What's for sure is that there will be a fight. We're in the Pyrenees and everyone must take their responsibilities. Port de Bales always caused some damage, whether in the Route du Sud or in the Tour", he said.

"The descent, we know it well. It's very technical at first and very fast towards the end. Everybody checked it. But the climb will determine what the descent will be. If all the favorites are together, there should not be too many risks taken in the descent. If some favorites are 20 or 30 seconds down at the top, there could be an attack in the descent," he added.

For Ledanois, his leader is confident unlike other riders potentially less comfortable in descents like Frenchman Thibaut Pinot: "Tejay is not the one who is the most afraid this morning. The one who is not so good down the hill is also the one who is stronger on the way up," he said.

And Marc Madiot, Pinot's FDJ.fr team manager, reminds a simple fact: "Before thinking about the descent, you'd better think about the climb!" 

The strong headwind forecast on the road to Luchon should not favor breakaways.