Time trial, Tourmalet…
After an unusual first rest day on Tuesday, the Tour de France continues with a diverse program for the second week. The highlight of the week will be the hilltop finish on the Tourmalet (an another unusual solution, because the famous climb is usually a mid-race ascent).
There is only one stage for the sprinters on Wednesday, and we probably have to say good bye to some fast riders, because they won’t race in the mountains and won’t wait for the next chances on the last week.
Th 12th stage with the two 1st category climbs is rather for breakaway riders. According to my experiences watching Tour de France in the last 20 years, I would say this isn’t a day for a battle between the main protagonists, because after the last climb there is a long descent till the finish line. But nowadays there are several riders among the GC-conterders, who like to ride an agressive, attack-friendly way. Thus, nothing is impossible. And don’t forget, there are time bonuses on the last climb of the day.
The 27 km long individual time trial on the 13th stage is not too long, not too short, not too steep and not too flat. But it will make the situation before the big day (Saturday) more clear for sure.
The 14th stage on Saturday is The Day (at least for the 2nd week). Hilltop finish on the Tourmalet, which happened only twice before in the history of Tour de France. A fight for the glory (not just for the GC-riders), a figh for the yellow. We can hope for a really exciting race.
An another stage with a hilltop finish on the very last day of the week, meanwhile the penultimate ascent has the mountain time bonuses. It depends on the happenings of the previous day what kind of tactic the teams are going to chose on this day. But there is a big change for an epic race again.
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