However there was at least one rider who took time to add another layer of spectacle for the amazing crowds at the roadside.
Bruno Armirail ventured into the breakaway on this ruthless stage. As a reward for his efforts. he will be wearing the jersey for the leader of mountain classification. But that's not what the fans will remember him for today.
That will be for the impressive wheelie the Frenchman attempted on the steepest slopes of the Basque climb. Obviously at gradients that go up to 20%, it wasn't easy, but the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale rider remarkably made several attempts, for which he was rewarded by cheers from the extatic crowds.