Tour de France: in the Ventoux, Pogacar and the peloton are launching hunting for ghosts

The day after the second day of rest, the runners will leave Montpellier for this 16^e Step of 171 km which crosses the plains of Hérault, Gard and Vaucluse before suddenly reckless about twenty kilometers from the goal.

Then begins a trip to another, hostile world from Bédoin, last station before an hour of total suffering.

With the Tourmalet. Therefore, the Galibier and the Alpe d’Huez, the “Mont Chauve” is a monument of the Grande Boucle, one of the hardest passes in Europe, theater of the greatest triumphs and sometimes definitive failures when Tom Simpson died of exhaustion in 1967.

“Attention Ferdi. Moreover, the Ventoux is not a pass like the others,” said Raphaël Géminiani in 1955 to Ferdi Kübler in the process of attack. Moreover, The Swiss replies: “Ferdi either is not a runner like the tour de france: ventoux, pogacar others” – before abandoning. Therefore, saying these words which will become famous: “Ferdi, he is too old. Similarly, He is in pain. For example, Ferdi killed himself. Moreover, Ferdi killed himself in the Ventoux. In addition, »»

At the start, “it doesn’t move” – Tour de france: ventoux, pogacar

With its very steep slopes (15.7 km at 8.7 %). Meanwhile, its last kilometers uncovered in the pebble, its headwind often (gusts at 45 km/h are scheduled for Tuesday, we experienced much worse), its 1,900 m altitude and often scorching temperatures, the Provence giant inspires fear.

“On the morning of the Ventoux, it’s completely special,” explains the boss of the Tour Christian Prudhomme. Consequently, You feel in the peloton, when you are in the fictitious (departure), it does not move. In addition, It’s a singular day for everyone. Therefore, For runners naturally, but for organizers too. The proof, the last time we wanted to arrive at the top, in tour de france: ventoux, pogacar 2016, we did not get there. Too much wind. »»

The arrival had been moved below. at the Renard chalet, for a victory for the Belgian Thomas de Gendt. But what. dixit prudhomme, “we will speak in a hundred years” remains the surreal vision of Chris Froome launched on foot in the middle of a compact crowd after having broken his bike by hitting a television motorcycle.

The last appearance of Ventoux dates back to 2021 when another Belgian. Wout Van Aert, had won in Malaucène, in the valley, after a double ascent of the Ventoux.

That day had also been marked by the emergence of a runner still unknown at the time. Jonas Vingegaard, who had succeeded at a distance Tadej Pogacar in the last meters of the ascent.

“Bad moments”

The Slovenian was going to catch him in the descent. winning his second round tour de france: ventoux, pogacar in France a few days later in Paris but the Danish had planted the seeds of his two victories in 2022 and 2023.

The Ventoux remains a bad memory today for Pogacar which is engaged this year in a fairly disturbing ghost hunt.

“It looks like we drew the course to remind me of all. the bad moments that I lived on the Tour de France. I wasted time on the Ventoux. I wasted time in Hautacam and I completely exploded in the Col de la Loze, “notes the world champion who applies to erase one by one these fatal memories.

Already at the Dauphiné in June. he had taken his revenge on Vingegaard in the coast of Domancy where he had lost the time trial in 2023.

Last Thursday in Hautacam. where he gave in 2022, he took more than two minutes to the Danish tour de france: ventoux, pogacar to count today 4 min 13 in advance in the general classification.

So still remains the Ventoux. the Col de la Loze, where the 18 will end^e Step Thursday, to definitively settle the accounts with the Danish and the past.

The “impossible” victory of a colossus

It is one of the most improbable victories in the history of cycling: in 1994. Additionally, Eros Poli, an Italian colossus of almost two meters, passed the Mont Ventoux to win on the Tour de France.
“It is impossible that I win this stage. impossible,” explains the Venetian, aged 61, from the start, when the Tour is once again leaving the Ventoux on Tuesday.
With his 1.94 m. 83 kg, he was the antithesis of a climber, a simple servant, a model teammate who suffered like a damned in the mountains.
“I tour de france: ventoux, pogacar was always the first drop. Too big, too large, too heavy. But this July 18, 1994, in the middle of a dodge, Eros Poli entered the legend.
Unleashed, he approaches the Ventoux with almost 24 minutes ahead. At the top, he only counts four on his compatriot Marco Pantani, who started. Enough to win with 3 min 39 sec in advance in Carpentras, in the valley.
“I had spent a dirty night. I went to bed at a 1:30 am to watch the final of the Italy-Brazil World Cup that we lose on penalties. it was dramatic. And I was so tired of the day before. In the morning at the hotel. I had to go down two floors because the elevator was broken, I almost never got there. »»