MADRID, 10 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The appearance of the Alps from this Friday will be decisive in this second week of the Tour de France, after a first that has been one of the most intense in memory, and the scene of the struggle between the leader, the Danish Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo -Visma), and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) for the yellow jersey.
After the rest day on Monday, there will be three stages of ‘transition’ to the Alpine range. The general classification after nine stages seems to be a matter of two, Jonas Vingegaard, leader with 17 seconds ahead of Tadej Pogacar, while the Australian Jay Hindley (Bora Hansgrohe) appears third, at two minutes and forty seconds.
This Tuesday, after the rest day in Clermont-Ferrand, the peloton will travel 168 kilometers between Vulcania and Issoire, on a ‘leg-breaking’ route through the Massif Central that will be an opportunity for specialists in one-day races or for a breakaway, after an initial week in which only the one on Sunday came to fruition with the victory of Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech).
On Wednesday it will offer a clear opportunity for sprinters, with an almost completely flat course between Clermont-Ferrand and Moulins, while on Thursday, 169 kilometers between Roanne and Belleville-en-Beaujolais, again in a ‘seesaw’ constant, perfect to break the race and lead to an exciting stage, but with little interest for the general.
The favorites will once again play a leading role in the return to the high mountains on Friday the 14th, the day before arriving in the Alps, in a stage of only 138 kilometers that ends at the Grand Colombier, 17.4 kilometers to 7 .1% average gradient, with several kilometers above 10%.
The first alpine stage will take place on Saturday the 15th, in a very tough day with 4,200 meters of cumulative unevenness in ‘only’ 152 kilometers, in which three first-class ports will be ascended: Col de Cou (7 km at 7.4%) , Col du Feu (5.8 km at 7.8%), Col de la Ramaz (13.9 km at 7.1%) and the imposing Joux Plane (11.6 km at 8.5%) in special category , which is crowned 13 kilometers from the end in Morzine.
To close the week another chain of five climbs in 179 kilometers from the start in Les Gets. With the Col de Aravis, in third category (4.4 km at 5.8%), the Cote des Amerands in second (2.7 km at 10.9%), and three first: Forclaz de Montmin (7 .2 km at 7.3%), the Croix Fry (11.3 at 7%), and the final ascent in Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, 7 kilometers at 7.7, which will host the finish line at its top.