While you were sleeping...

Social media updates might dwindle over the next couple of days. Switzerland isn't part of the EU hence it costs more to use phone data there if you usually live in an EU country.

Who's the winning woman?

Angela Perin and Fanny Benussan are still neck and neck (we think!) despite their differing routes. Angela is in her native Italy cruising along the shores of Lake Garda, the leading pairs riders only a few kilometres behind her.

Fanny Bensussan updated her followers from her roadside bivvy spot last night and she woke again around 5 hours later. Not bad for a bivvy sleep! Early this morning she continued her planned exit from Italy but in doing so rode 3km of gravel, which would've slowed her down considerably.

Jana is a little way back just leaving Brixen in Italy. It seems she got biblical rains yesterday and we heard similar reports from those who were climbing Großglockner.

Pointy end sharpens

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDIWjQolnLK/

Sofiane managed to get ahead of Björn last night but maybe Björn was getting some much-needed sleep and will able to reel Sofiane back in. Who knows!? Ulrich is now being chased by the Frenchman and has a lead of just ~30km. The duo have summitted Furkapass leaving Björn behind in Andermatt to tackle the 7.6% climb.

I've been checking in on this webcam in Realp (the start of the Furkapass climb) and thought I'd spotted Björn but on closer inspection, I don't think it is. Keep it in your bookmarks for other riders coming past in the next few hours. Théo Daniel will swing by shortly after this update is posted.

I've had a quick look at the potential route Stephane Ouaja and the other riders down in Italy will take to get into Italy. The obvious way appears to be up Simplon Pass but the road has a lot of big tunnels. I wouldn't fancy riding them on my bike and I'm not even sure it's allowed. If anyone has any inside info, let us know.

If indeed Team Italy Riders get to Brig to join Team Switzerland Riders then this is the route we can expect them to take all the way to the top of the Col du Sanetsch for CP2.

There are a few other roads that join the main road up to the top so we'll see which one Ulrich takes firstly.

Adrien Liechti goes hunting for dots

Friend of DotWatcher, Adrien Liechti, is out on his bike today as he hunts down riders on their way into France. The Swissman has done many events over the years including Atlas Mountain Race and Hope 1000 more recently. Hopefully we'll get some roadside updates from Adrien later today.

Further back

Plenty of riders are still grinding up Großglockner Pass so we recommend sending them some good vibes. The weather up there has been horrendous in the last 12 hours.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDIgZLVDaZZ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDIPuviFl0H/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDI02XYpsE_/

(By the way, check out Marcis' Instagram stories for full updates from him. He powered himself to the top on Austrian delicacy beef bullion! Some of his updates are in Polish.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDHn9peFcwO/

See you at the top

We'll be back a bit later today to report from the top of Col du Sanetsch (virtually, of course!). It's forecast to be 32ºC and sunny up there today so we're fully expecting some sweaty efforts up to the lake.