TOMBLAINE, France (AP) β The Tour de France has left the flats of northern France for three days of up-and-down riding in the Vosges mountains.
Saturday’s 161-kilometer (100-mile) Stage 8 from Tomblaine to the Gerardmer La Mauselaine ski resort features a short but steep uphill finish that will test the legs of overall leader Vincenzo Nibali and his main challengers for the yellow jersey.
The Italian holds a two-second lead over Astana teammate Jakob Fuglsang and is two minutes, 37 seconds clear of two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador β his main rival.
The toughest rides in the Vosges will come Monday when cyclists face seven ascents, including a tough uphill finish up to the storied ski resort La Planche des Belles Filles.
