A day of scrambling for the GC contenders on Stage 18, but in the end it was largely status quo in the race for yellow. The summit finish on today's stage will see sparks fly again, but the climbing to the finish almost guarantees some gaps.
0 Comments
An exciting last stage looks like it will only be topped here, as some really attacking racing by the main contenders could be on the cards. Even if that doesn't occur, it will be an interesting fight amongst the breakaway, with a lot of the top climbers likely to join the early escape.
As seen in the Dauphine! This stage is an exact replica of the Dauphine stage where Romain Bardet escaped on the descent and then held off the peleton on the final climb. Behind him, Tejay Van Garderen caused an upset as he overtook Chris Froome in the final kilometre and let off a warning that he would be in good form for the Tour.
The stage into Gap is always a day for the breakaway, and it has become a fairly regular feature of the Tour. The final descent into Gap may also be the scene for attacks by the favourites.
An intriguing finish here, nicely balanced between the classics riders and the climbers. There will be some big time gaps for the unwary here, as the final climb is very tough.
The puncheurs will get their chance to shine today, on a lumpy day into Rodez which ends with a steep pinch up to the line.
After stages and stages of yucky climbing at the finish the sprinters get their chance here on a stage that, whilst difficult to control, should see a bunch finish in Valence.
The Plateau de Beille is the scene for the drama today, and it will be a very tough test for those that have just been clinging onto to the tails of others, for as Bernard Hinault says "the third day in the mountains finds you out".
Off to the high mountains again and the famous Col du Tourmalet is on the menu today. It will probably be the key climb of the stage and it will be a good launching pad for ambitious moves by the contenders who are looking to make up for lost time.
The first big mountain stage of the Tour, which will cull the non-climbers from the GC top ten, and give the riders the first chance to show their form on a proper climb. The winner at the top will also take on the mountains jersey as well.
|
AuthorI'm Jamie Finch-Penninger, better known as Fishy, the best DS to ever sit a couch. Anything which I don't cover for a bigger site will be up here. Archives
October 2015
CategoriesCome here for the previews of all the World Tour races this season, plus any Pro Continental/NRS/tricycle races that take my fancy. Along as it's pro cycling I'll have some sort of opinion on it. I'm Australian, so be prepared for a healthy Orica-Greenedge bias. Please feel free to request any changes or previews, and stay up to date on Twitter and Facebook.
|