Stage 9 profile

Stage 9 travels from yesterday's finish town of Gérardmer to Mulhouse. Three early 3rd Category climbs set up the 2nd Category La Grand Ballon, a 20-kilometer climb to 1338 meters. Another 3rd Category climb, the Col de Bussang, is followed by the Tour's first 1st Category climb, Le Ballon d'Alsace, and a 56-kilometer descent and run-in to Mulhouse.

Should be a good chance to see whether yesterday's "Discovery crisis" was really a crisis at all.

Jersey check:

Lance Armstrong

Tom Boonen

Mickael Rasmussen

Vladimir Karpets

There are three intermediate sprints; with Tom Boonen complaining of back problems, we may see Thor Hushovd try to gain ground in the green jersey competition.