BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France (AP) — Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet's nearly six-minute lead of the Tour de France ought to come under threat in the second consecutive stage in the Pyrenees on Saturday.
Although it does not feature a mountain-top finish, Stage 8 is a tough 184-kilometer ride with four major ascents, including the legendary Col du Tourmalet, a punishing 19-kilometer climb at an average gradient of 7.4 percent.
Van Avermaet, riding for BMC, leads Adam Yates of Britain by 5 minutes, 50 seconds. Julian Alaphilippe of France was third, 5:51 behind, and Alejandro Valverde of Spain fourth, 5:53 back.