This year's Tour de France has been dominated by bunch sprints with the opening time trial in Dusseldorf and the finishing climb on stage 5 offering the only respite.
Stage 8 changes all that. The climb near the finish at Station des Rousses ensures that the bunch sprinters will call a ceasefire, and breakaway specialist Simon Clarke is expecting a major fight in the opening phase of the stage.
"The opportunities start now," the Australian told Cyclingnews at the end of stage 7.
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"I think that everyone is still feeling pretty fresh, and the first week hasn't been too arduous. We've had favourable winds and terrain. There's been so much at stake for these sprinters and they want to make it a sprint every day that they can.
"But stage 8 is going to be a war. It's the first sniff really for the breakaway riders and it's still not even guaranteed that you're going to stay away. There's more chance though."
Cannondale-Drapac have been in a number of breaks during the race but the strongest move so far came on stage 5 when Philippe Gilbert and Edvald Boasson Hagen were involved. That day BMC Racing dragged the bunch along and made sure that the move was snuffed out before the final climb. A similar scenario on stage 8 is unlikely. BMC Racing paid for that effort and unless someone like Arnaud Demare sneaks away in order to pick up points in the green jersey competition, it's likely that the sprinters will sit up.
Riding for Rigoberto
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