The Alps are here at last and the riders who lost some time in the Vosges are eager for revenge in today's stage to Chamrousse and tomorrow's ride to Risoul.

Tejay Van Garderen, currently 6th overall, 3:56 behind Vincenzo Nibali is among the riders capable of playing a major role in the Alps.

"He's fine. The Tour has been an elimination race so far and I can tell you it's not going to end now," said the American's BMC team director Yvon Ledanois.

"The climb to Chamrousse doesn't look too steep but with the heat, there will be a lot of damage," he added.

"The most important thing is to play it right. The demolition race will continue until the Pyrenees and as far as we're concerned, we have left our worries of the first week behind," he said.

Dutchman Bauke Mollema, 6th overall a year ago, is also a rider waiting for his time to come in this Tour.

"Last year, I was far better placed at that stage of the race. I'm a little less exposed this year and that's alright," the Belkin team leader told letour.fr

"But of course I hope for the Alps to help me move a few spots up, especially as I don't fear the heat. Last year it was pretty warm in the Pyrenees and I didn't do so badly," he added.

Mollema, like the other Dutch riders, was wearing a black armband at the start in homage of the victims of he crash in Ukraine of a Malaysian plane coming from Amsterdam.