Tour De France, 2007, Stage 8 Preview: Another Tough Day in the Alps

The second of six Alpine stages and the second straight day in the Alps greet the ever-weary peloton Sunday in the eighth stage of the 2007 Tour de France.

The route is "only" 165 kilometers (102.5 miles) from Le Grand Bornand to race newcomer, Tignes. But the day will feature an always undulating terrain and six categorized climbs, including three pesky category 1 ascents in the final 70 kilometers (43.5 miles).

None of the three concluding climbs are among Tour's most difficult. But all three are long treks and their position in the day could prompt huge time gaps in the peloton.

The Tour de France distributes vast quantities of information about each stage, including details of each categorized climb of the race. The following statistics (in kilometers) are the description of stage eight's final three climbs. The categories in order: distance into the stage, name of the climb, location, distance, average gradient and designated category

Km 99.5: Cormet de Roselend (D.925-D.902): 19.9 km climb @ 6 % grade / 1st Cat.
Km 136.5: Montée d'Hauteville: 15.3 km climb @ 4.7 % grade / 1st Cat.
Km 163: Montée de Tignes: 18.0 km climb @ 5.4 % grade / 1st Cat.

Riders in contention for the overall title didn't have to show their best climbing abilities in stage 7. But nor can they risk holding back anymore. There are more difficult stages ahead, but Sunday's trek will be the race's most difficult to date. And with the first rest day scheduled Monday, look for race's best to come to the front of the peloton on the final climb.

Once again, Tour organizers have gone to great lengths to keep the race fresh. As such, the finish at Tignes, a ski resort, is another Tour debut.

The 1992 Winter Olympic venue, Val d'Isere, is nearby, and the Tour has twice finished at the quaint resort. In 1963, Spain's Fernando Manzeneque won the stage on a solo break. Thirty-three years later, Russia's Evgeni Berzin claimed an uphill individual time trial to Val d'Isere by 35 seconds over eventually race winner Bjarne Riis.