A key factor in being successful in the Tour de France is staving off dangers that crop up during the 3,320km race. With 21 stages across a 23-day period, the 2,075-mile course poses a range of challenges and terrains for the 184 riders battling it out for the yellow jersey.

The 2025 Tour de France returns to action with a short Stage 11 on Wednesday after a well-earned rest day. The riders will take on a 156.8-kilometer loop that begins and ends in Toulouse, located in southwestern France. With fresh legs, tight roads, and steep climbs in the finale, Stage 11 is primed for fireworks from the start.

Covering the New Orleans food scene means encountering classics, surprises, moments and memories. Here’s a few quick hits from my notebook of late.

Healy's presence at the top of the GC and success all-around is indirectly benefiting Powless, the American said, because the pressure is off him a lot to perform, so he can concentrate fully on getting up to full strength.

1. Simon Yates, Great Britain, Team Visma ' Lease a Bike, 4:20:05. 2. Thymen Arensman, Netherlands, INEOS Grenadiers, 4:20:14. 3. Ben Healy, Ireland, EF Education-EasyPost, 4:20:36. 4. Ben O’Connor, Australia, Team Jayco-AlUla, 4:20:54.

Route map, profile and start time as GC contenders set for battle on Bastille Day - Mountains are on the menu for first time in this year’s Tour de France on a punishing mountain stage

Australian was crucial part of key break that put EF Education-EasyPost teammate Ben Healy in position to take race lead