Sligo's Mark Scanlon (Ag2R Prévoyance) finished as part of the main bunch on yesterday's stage, crossing the line 50th and in the same time as Robbie McEwen. Scanlon is now 52nd overall, 12 minutes and 26 seconds behind Voeckler. He remains eighth in the young rider classification.

Scanlon will be slightly nervous heading into today's first mountain stage but can take encouragement from the fact that he spent 10 days training in the high mountains in June, covering many of the Tour's alpine climbs. The weather should also be far better than the conditions the peloton has endured up north, another plus for Scanlon who rides more strongly in the heat.

The 23-year old's big goal is to make it to Paris in this, his first Tour. His youth and solid build means he will lose time on the Tour's best climbers, but while the mountains will be tough he should have the mental and physical strength to cope. Scanlon knows riding and finishing the Tour will make him a better cyclist, building form and experience for the years ahead. In the short term, the race should also hone his condition for the Olympic road race in August.