Greig Leach

As the Maillot a Pois implies, Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) is good at going up the mountains. But he might be even better coming back down the other side. Alaphilippe summitted the final climb of the Col du Portillon trailing Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott) by 19 seconds. He was catching back up with the Englishman when Yates slid out on a wet corner. Alaphilippe had no such problems in the same corner, or any other one. He is a scary marvel to watch on the way down a mountain. As he was pulling away from the chasers, and Yates who closed back up to third on the day, he was certain he was going to take his second stage of this year's Tour. This may have been the last sharp turn before the streets of Bagneres de Luchon.