Cycle Racing

After the Pyrenees the Tour had four gentle but hilly stages in the south of France, as it transitioned towards the Alps for the final and crucial stages of the competition. The four stages had their own challenges, some with hill finishes, but they tended to favour the sprinters. The yellow jersey riders marked time before the Alps, careful not to let time slip against rivals.

The first week of the Tour, the race smoldered. This week in the Pyrenees, it exploded.