20.07.2019.
Tarbes – Tourmalet
(117,5 km)The day of the truth. Can Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) keep the yellow jersey?A short stage with only 117 km, but with 3 climbs:
Côte de Labatmale (Cat 4, 1,4 km à 6,7%)
Col du Soulor (Cat 1 , 11,9 km à 7,8%)
Tourmalet (Cat HC 19,0 km à 7,4%)
Most likely the Ineos is going to controll (and push very hard) the race.
Any team, which can set the pace will try to drop as most rival riders as possible. We might see big dramas on the Category 1 climb already.
Tourmalet is one of the most iconic ascents of the Tour de France, but usually used as a mid-race climb. There is a hilltop finish on the top of the mountain this year, that means more riders want to fight for this kind of glory, not just only for the good results.
Because the stage is short, probably a small group of the GC-contenders will ride at the front of the race on the last climb of the day. Question is, which of them will have more helpers.
We have a plenty of excellent cyclists in the peloton, so we can expect a firework finale on this Saturday, for sure.
Favourites:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo)
⭐⭐⭐⭐Adam Yates (Mitchelton- SCOTT), Gerain Thomas (Ineos)
⭐⭐⭐Emanuel Buchmann (BORA-Hansgrohe), Mikel Landa (Movistar)
Dark horse: Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)
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