We’re nearly there folks! The mountains are done for another year at Le Tour and Froome’s grip on the yellow jersey is that bit stronger after Bardet and Uran could distance him on the Izoard. The final two stage, before the ceremonial crit in Paris, could still throw up a surprise, but it will take a huge effort. Bardet’s only real chance to go on the attack tomorrow and use his team to force a break...

Primoz Roglic deserves a perfect scorecard for his victory in stage 17, especially for his ski-jump landing pose on the podium—it certainly beats bottom pinching. Stage 18 gives him another opportunity for take off, and looking at the profile we can spy plenty of ramps he can use as a launchpad.

OK, now that we’ve done the whole ex-ski-jumper bit, we can move on to consider...

Stage 16 saw Team Sunweb use the initial climb and the concluding crosswinds to underpin an imperious team display to win the stage with Michael Matthews. The fierce ascents and descents of stage 17 are likely to be used as similarly key components in the GC teams’ tactics.

Being one of only a few ‘proper mountain’ stages of this year’s tour, but lacking a summit finish, stage 17 sees no fewer than...

The rest day can do funny things to the legs of pro cyclists. Paris is now very close, but fatigue will kick in big time in this final week and a stage that begins with 20km of climbing from the flag drop isn’t going to be welcomed by most riders, especially those sprinters who may be eyeing up the flatter finish to this stage.

Marcel Kittell will be one of...

Firstly, apologies for the lack of Stage 13 preview, non-cycling life again got in the way!

After a utterly barnstorming stage, the GC men will surely be taking it easy on Stage 14 and this looks set for a breakaway win from one of the puncheurs, but with the Top 8 only separated by 2 minutes, any opportunity that arises will be taken.

Looking at the profile, this is very much a stage of two halves, the first section (around 70kms) is predominantly flat and should see a break form...

Praise be! Let’s be honest, since last Sunday the Tour has been a bore. Only Bouhanni’s punch and Bodner’s late attack made the last 48 hours mildly interesting.

Anyway, enough of the past. Stage 12 is a tantalising beast for the riders to contend with.  Four categorised climbs will need to be dealt with before the double-barreled summit finish in Peyragudes....