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Stage 8 Preview

As many expected, today's stage 7 provided a worthy winner but no real fireworks among the favorites for the general classification. Stage 8 could be a very different story as the first category 1 climbs make their appearance and the Tour de France enters the Alps. Covering 189km from Les Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, the tough Col de la Ramaz will test the field with a 14km ascent averaging 6.8% in gradient. The summit comes 35km from the finish in Avoriaz with few meters of flat before the peloton tackles the final test.

Stage 8 Profile
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The climb from the town of Morzine to the final summit in Avoriaz lasts 13km and will likely provide the first real launching pad for the heads of state who feel their legs can match their ambition. Sylvain Chavanel will dig deep but is less likely to survive with the leaders until the finish. Defending champion Alberto Contador is the man everyone expects to throw down the gauntlet and attack on the Alpine slopes.

Final Kilometer of Stage 8
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With a peloton already worn down from several days in the extreme heat and a tougher than usual first week of racing, who will be the freshest in Avoriaz? Conservation will be the name of the game in the early part of stage 8 as the final showdown before the Tour's first rest day (Monday) looms large.

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