Yesterday, the riders just had a final climb to surmount. Today there’s a more extensive number of kilometres on the climbing programme. The stage from Pau to Cauterets is 188 kilometres long, of which the first hundred can be seen as a run-up. With the Aspin, Tourmalet and the final climb to Cauterets, the real climbers in the peloton can do what they love. 10 days ago, Adam Hansen fell during stage 2, his GT-record seemed to be perished for a moment, but the Australian has a better feeling each day.

“The first days were a disaster," he said. "I had tremendously much pain, couldn’t stand up straight on the bike, and I really thought that I had to leave the Tour. Luckily, the situation improved, which is a huge relief for me. The shoulder doesn’t feel perfect yet, but I feel strong enough to do my job again for the team and who knows that I can venture something the next ten days. I always feel better in the third week of a Grand Tour.

"For today, some people predict that the early breakaway can last till the end, but the pace that the teams of the GC riders are riding, is so high that it isn’t going to be an easy task to stay in front of the race. I’m curious what the recipe can be to defeat them.”