The Tour arrives at the High Mountain

Come the Pyrenees, the first zone of the High Mountain Tour de France. Two stages harsh Sunday and Monday morning removed at a stroke called one of the favorites and who knows, will introduce a stuffy people who can fight for something big.

After yesterday's stage, a relaxing thing to sprint at the end (the sprinters this year we are going wrong because they are not allowed to show off) ended with the triumph of Cavendish, second you in this Tour, and nothing remarkable in general. Indeed it was remarkable the expulsion of Manuel Beltran, a biker known by all, accused of doping with EPO. He relies on his innocence and asks everyone to respect the presumption of innocence, which the Tour was the first not to comply, calling him a "cheater". The Tour, as always, making friends.

But back to today's stage. They were coming at a stage of 224 kilometers marathon in which two ports will rise in the fourth category, one third, then two first class. Not just high, the Col d'Aspin is 26 miles from goal, but the descent is very selective and if one of the favorites is hard to oust the others try their luck.

Tomorrow's stage will be the largest if seen so far in this round gala, with two ports of special category at the end and coming up. That would leave things tidy for the next phase of high mountains in the Alps.

Image: Flickr.com