51�Թ�

In 1870, miners finished digging a nearly eight-mile-long tunnel through Mont Cenis, connecting the French and the Italian Alps.

The stage began in the hills with one major climb up Col du Mont Cenis before flattening out for the long run to Ivrea, an ascent of the relatively minor Andrate, and the return to town.

Another climb of the Mont Cenis won't be appreciated by the riders; it should see a long-range attack for the stage win go clear, with the field regrouping behind for the flat run-out towards Turin.

The leg starts in the mountains, then offers the somewhat terrifying relief of a plummet down Mont Cenis before barrelling to its destination.

Visconti's victory came after the peloton had agreed to neutralise the first 60km of the stage, a decision owing as much to collective morale and self-preservation as the presence of ice on the road to Mont Cenis, but the attacks began as soon as the summit came to sight.