Stage 9, from Vielha val d'Aran > Andorre Arcalis, was a proper mountain stage. 184.5KM is a pretty long stage, never mind the five categorized climbs of the day - 1 x Cat 2, 3 x Cat 1 and an HC mountain-top finish at 2,240M.
Those are the kind of numbers that test the arithmetic skills of all sprinters. Coefficients, gradients, average speeds, wind - even the temperature all play a part in calculating how to get to the end of the stage just before the time cut-off.
Dan did his job again today, a day that saw three more race abandons. He finished 186th on the road, in a huge gruppetto that came home 35:26 behind the stage winner. Tomorrow is a very welcome rest day.
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