road.cc Fantasy Cycling: Tour de France stage 11 preview

Again, this is a stage where the big sprinters’ teams will keep a close eye on any attacks, with only two more prospects for a bunch finish remaining in the race in Montpellier on Stage 14 and on the final day on the Champs-Elysees. Belgium’s Rik Verbrugghe won the only previous stage to have finished in Lavaur in 2001.

Thought for the Day

It should be a bunch finish but with an up-and-down parcours, as yesterday, strong attackers may go all out for a breakaway win. That includes those French riders ill-equipped to deal with a mountainous Bastille Day stage tomorrow and who may fancy celebrating the Fete Nationale by getting their picture on the front page of L’Equipe.

GT’s tips

Again, this could follow the pattern of the last couple of days, and if a strong break gets away it could be hard to pull them back. It will depend how the sprinters are feeling, some of them may be tired, but they¹re running out of chances for a stage win so have every incentive to chase the break.