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The Individual Time Trial from Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel will be an important day for the General Classification.
With Chris Froome, of Team Sky, the favourite among the maillot jaune contenders to finish Stage 11 as the best placed rider, his rivals will be keen to minimise their losses to fight another day.
Which could be easier said then done for the likes of Joaquim Rodriguez, of Team Katusha, and Alejandro Valverde of Movistar.
Everyone will be keen to avoid a repeat of the Criterium du Dauphine individual time trial, which was similar in length.
During the Stage 4 individual time trial of the French stage race, which many cyclists use as preparation for the Tour de France, Froome distanced several of his rivals in the General Classification by over two minutes.
While such a situation would not spell the death-knell of the race overall as a contest, it would be considered almost impossible to cut a three-to-four minute time deficit to Froome.
Thankfully, for most, Stage 11’s route is just 33 kilometres in length, which is hoped should keep the time gaps in the General Classification from blowing out too far.
However, it will still be a tough day in the saddle, especially for the likes of Rodriguez, the diminutive Spanish climber not known for his time trialling abilities.
Should the winds near the Normandy coast have a part to play in the stage however, the time gaps could become even larger.
The majority of fans are seemingly expecting a massacre in General Classification, as Froome establishes major distance between himself and his rivals.
Whether this apocalyptic vision will happen remains to be seen, but without a doubt several General Classification hopefuls could be forced even further on to the back foot.
With a second individual time trial still to come in the Tour de France, many supporters will be hoping the time gaps gained by Froome are minimal.
It is hard to see anyone within the current top ten of the General Classification really challenging Froome.
Previously many would have expected Alberto Contador, of Saxo-Tinkoff, to perform at a high standard.
However, he hardly looked comfortable on the time trial bike as of late, and was one of the worst of in that Criterium du Dauphine individual time trial.
Similar applies to his team mate Roman Kreuziger, who has progressively gone from being a credible time trialist earlier in his career to mediocre at best.
The prospects of the other, current, top ten General Classification riders do not look much brighter.
From second position through to ninth in the overall standings, each cyclist is arguably better know for their climbing then their skills in the time trial discipline.
With Valverde and Bauke Mollema, of Team Belkin, possibly the better of the bunch at time trials as of late.
However, Movistar teammate Nairo Quintana may be a bit of an unknown quantity in the individual time trial, and is not as mediocre in the time trial discipline as some people may be lead to believe.
Arguably, Rui Costa, of Movistar, may be the weak favourite to lose the least time to Froome in Stage 11.
After his second consecutive overall victory in the Tour de Suisse, in preparation for the Tour de France, Rui Costa is carrying some good form and confidence through the Tour de France.
While probably unlikely to match Froome in the individual time trial, the Portuguese cyclist is arguably one of the better time trialists on the flat in the current top ten of the General Classification.
Lurking outside the top ten are several contenders still fighting to secure a decent overall finish.
With the potential ability to slash their time deficits to several riders within the top ten of the General Classification, the likes of Jakob Fuglsang, Michał Kwiatkowski, and Jean-Christophe Péraud will be eager to perform.
While Australia’s own Cadel Evans, of BMC, will have the opportunity to join them in ascending the overall standings should his form and legs allow him to deliver a strong time trial performance.
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