Seen struggling in the first two Pyrenees stages, Alejandro Valverde limited the damage each time thanks to his experience and the support of his Movistar team-mates. Is he the weak spot in the top 6 of the Tour de France as the fight for podium places and top five honours is raging?

"To be quite honest, I believe Alejandro can be dropped," said his former team director Yvon Ledanois now in charge of BMC and their American leader Tejay Van Garderen. 

"He struggled a bit in the last two stages and if he's attacked again, it might not work again this time," he said.

However the French sports director does not believe in an alliance between French teams to make sure a Frenchman makes it on the podium in Paris. 

"There will be alliances but they will be dictated by the race, not the nationality," he said.

For Yvon Ledanois, the weather is going to be a factor today: "If it rains, it will change the deal, especially in the Tourmalet descent. I believe the battle can start in the Tourmalet," he said.

As for Van Garderen, "who bonked slightly" two days ago, he said he was determined to make it on the Top 5.