Marseille Men's Singles -

Today the race heads up to the ski resort of Alpe d’Huez via the mythical 21 hairpin bends for a summit finish that is one of the greatest prizes in professional cycling. Why is Alpe d’Huez so iconic, you might ask?

It’s not the hardest or the prettiest of Alpine climbs – and after its first appearance in the Tour in 1952, it was such a damp squib that it wasn’t used again for 24 years. But since then, it’s become one of the standout totems of cycling – a climb that has become synonymous with the Tour in the same way that the Arenberg forest section of cobbles is indelibly linked to the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic.

It’s a 13.8km ascent that curls up the mountainside in a series of switchbacks from Bourg d’Oisans down in the valley, to the ski resort up top. The average gradient of 8.1% is not to be baulked at – particularly because the fans get so close, that it’s a highly charged and claustrophobic atmosphere for the riders.

If Tadej Pogacar’s lead in the yellow jersey standings seems like a pretty comfortable cushion – illness concerns aside – then the came cannot be said for his team-mate Isaac del Toro in his white jersey clash with French phenomenon Paul Seixas.

Where 4’32” separates Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel on GC, just 20 seconds stand between the Mexican and the French 19-year-old as the two do battle for both the white jersey and the final spot on the podium.

While back-to-back summit finishes on Alpe d’Huez has been done before, the race organisers have put a fresh spin on the idea to come up with what is an essentially new challenge for the peloton over the next two days.

In 1979, the first double header happened with successive stages here and in 2013 it occurred in an around-and-about way by including a dual ascent of the iconic climb in a single stage. 

That first time, Stages 17 and 18 finished at Alpe d’Huez, the second of which being a madcap out-and-back stage that started with the riders descending the famous 21 hairpin bends before looping back up to the ski resort.

For Stage 18 of 2013, there was a double ascent, with the riders also having to negotiate the descent at Col de Sarenne, won by French rider Christophe Riblon. It is via the Sarenne that the riders will reach the summit tomorrow in Stage 20, joining the usual road for the final five hairpin bends.

The sick Brandon McNulty withdraw yesterday while both Adam Yates and Tim Wellens have been suffering with the same stomach bug since the rest day. It couldn’t come at a worse time for the team, who are fighting on several fronts – notably Pogacar for yellow and Del Toro for the podium and white.

According to Belgian media, the remaining riders have been eating separately in their rooms, sleeping in separate beds (isn’t that usually the case?), walking through the hotel wearing face masks, and sitting spread out on the team bus to halt further infections.

It will be fascinating to see how they cope with the attacks today, and whether their two totems are operating at full fitness and health.