Tour shifts to a higher gear

Courcheval - The Tour de France moves up another gear on Wednesday when the riders contest their first two "beyond category" climbs in the 173km 11th stage between Courchevel and Briancon.

The Madeleine and Galibier passes are Tour classics which should sort the men from the boys even though the top of the last climb is 38km from the finish in the highest city in Europe, which may help dropped riders fight back on the descent.

Given the cycling lesson he taught his rivals in the first Alps stage on Tuesday, Lance Armstrong is expected to continue his domination before the competitors return to the valley on Thursday.

The 11th stage could be a perfect opportunity for the six-times Tour champion to test the surprise packages of this year's race like fifth-placed Alejandro Valverde of Spain and second-placed Dane Michael Rasmussen, who wears the King of the Mountains polkadot jersey.

"We're all surprised with him (Rasmussen)," Armstrong told reporters. "He's a damn good climber. Now we'll have to watch him.

"Anyone who was at the front of that final climb on Tuesday is a contender for the mountains classification, for the overall standings."

The second Alps stage also represents an ideal chance for several riders to take revenge on Armstrong.

Italy's Ivan Basso, third overall 2:40 behind the American, will hope to strike back, as will the T-Mobile trio of Jan Ullrich, Andreas Kloeden and Alexander Vinokourov.

Briancon, which has hosted the race 31 times before, is a traditional stage finish.

Colombian Santiago Botero, quiet so far this year, won in the fortified city in the 2000 Tour.

Botero, who relishes high altitude, was also first at the summit of the 2 000m high Galibier three years ago and the Phonak rider will be looking to make amends after finishing 15th in Tuesday's 10th stage to Courchevel.