The Tour de France came to life in its first rest days on Mondaya well-deserved rest for the cyclists after the massive battle that took place in the first mountain stages.
Passing the Pyrenees made it very clear that Jonas Vingegaaard and Tadek Pogacar would not think twice and at any moment a race may break out. It’s hardly over the next three stages, two medium-mountain and one flat, where the stage hunters and sprinters will be looking to hit the target before the series of main courses we experience from Friday 14th , the national holiday of France.
That stage 13 will be one of the days marked in red. After a few kilometers without orographic complications, the road gradually becomes steeper until reaching the foot of the Grand Colombierea peak where Pogacar won in 2020. Its 17.4 kilometers at an average slope of 7.1%, with several kilometers above 10%, is suitable terrain for the favorites to move in search of a strong blow before the final fireworks at the end of the week.
And that is, between Saturday and Sunday, we will live two of the highlights of this edition of the gala round. In stage 14, the runners will face no more and no less than 4,200 meters of accumulated unevenness and four ports of maximum demand: 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 terrifying Joux Plane (11.6 km at 8.5%), crowned 13 km from the finish line, in the town of Morzine.
By the forces held the week will close on Sunday with another festival in style. Between Les Gets and the high finish line in Saint Gervais Mont Blanc continues up and down with five grading climbs: Forclaz de Montmin (7.2 km at 7.3%), Croix Fry (11.3 at 7% ), Aravis ( 4.4 km at 5.8% ), the explosive Cóte des Amerands (2.7 km at 10.9%) and ending at Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc after a 7 km climb at 7.7 of medium gradient. That was the last climb of the race.
Undoubtedly, a mountain binge that will turn the second day of rest, Monday 17, into a real water of May for cyclists. before Tuesday’s time trial between Passy – Combloux (22km), another of the main events in the battle between the two titans who will play for the final victory on the Champs Elysées in Paris. Not forgetting a Carlos Rodríguez who, at 22 years old and in his first Tour, is fighting serious options to occupy the third place in the drawer.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
