The status quo should not last. If there was a movement in the favorite group on Friday, the contenders for the final podium finally arrived in the same group. It will not be this Saturday, since the Col de la Madeleine, where the stage will be judged, should do its work.
“It is clearly one of the most demanding stages of the Tour. After the arrival we will see clearly in the general classification, ”says Franck Perque, the tracer of the event. Demanding, this ascent of 18.6 km at 8.1 % average may be that too much for some of the runners of the top 10 in the general classification which are still held in 1’35 ”.
Vollering can count on his armada
The yellow jersey, Kim runs, seems to be the first in danger. Let go Friday by the group of leaders in the Col du Granier – much less difficult than the Madeleine -, the Mauritian accused up to thirty seconds late, before managing to pick up in the descent. But this Saturday, there will be no descent after the madeleine to allow the head of the AG Insurance – Soudal team to come back.
Kim’s reaction runs after this seventh step
His opponents will have noted the less well of the former mountain biker arrived on the late road. They will therefore attack him in this climb culminating at 2,000 m, the summit of this 2025 edition. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is the best positioned, with her second place overall, to delight the yellow jersey. Friday, the French leader of the Visma-Lease A Bike team held well in the group of favorites, as well as Anna Van der Breggen (SD World) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-Sram).
It is nevertheless the Dutchman of the FDJ-Suez team, half a vollering that makes the best impression, in particular because it can count on the flawless support of the French avoida Muzic and Juliette Labous as well as the Swiss Elise Chabbey, carrier of the pea jersey. The fight promises to be breathless.
The stage of this Saturday: fictitious departure at 1:45 p.m., arrival scheduled at 5.15 p.m. Broadcast on France TV at 1:55 p.m. and on Eurosport at 1:30 p.m.