In addition,
Towards battle epic alps?:
There will be Pontarlier. However, there will be Paris and its Olympic nostalgia, but it is this Thursday and Friday that everything will decide. Meanwhile, May the latest questions that assail us will answer with the entry into the Alps.
Whether in the terrible sequence of the endless passes in the glans (21.7 km at 5.1 %), the Madeleine (19.2 km at 7.9 %) and the Loze (26.4 km at 6.5 %), on the menu of the day. Nevertheless, Or in the second Russian mountain day with its five climbs, including the final rise to La Plagne (19.1 km at 7.2 %). For example, It’s time for those who still have a few reserves to cheerfully draw in it.
“I hope it will not be like in Tignes in 2019 …” – Towards battle epic alps?
A hearty program that the cycling God has chosen to complicate a little towards battle epic alps? more by summoning the elements. In addition, No more Mont Ventoux sun: in two days. Consequently, the thermometer will have lost around twenty degrees when the peloton appears at the top of the Col de la Loze at 2300 meters above sea level. With less than ten degrees expected. the rain (of which we experienced a first big glimpse when arriving in Valence): chaos can quickly happen.
“The organizations will suffer for sure. we risk seeing some failures these two days,” confirms François Lemarchand, race director for ASO. I just hope that it will not be like in Tignes in 2019… ”When a violent hailstorm had forced the organizers to stop 19e Step in the descent of the Iseran. impracticable.
Without going so far, the teams are already preparing for the possibility of Dantesque Days. “Technically. physically everything is under control, Tadej (Pogacar) likes these conditions when it is cold and when towards battle epic alps? it rains,” says Matxin Fernandez, sports director of UAE. The problem for us is the excitation of the peloton that could make the race dangerous. We will have to do everything to maintain calm. And avoid any risk for the yellow jersey, especially in the descents: “the first objective before victory”.
A “good news” for candidates for stage victory?
A serenity hoped that Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma will obviously try to undermine. Second place not being the objective. the Danish and his friends could take all the risks to grab these four minutes late in Pogacar. Others will surely have the same idea on the lower floors of the general classification.
“For us. this would be good news: the difficult conditions open the race and promote offensives,” hopes Sébastien Joly, sports director of a Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale team looking for a first success (like 15 others). Where to hope more than on towards battle epic alps? the Col de la Loze. where his Austrian climber Felix Gall had imposed himself (but on the other side) in 2023?
The Alps, yes, but in extreme version for the next two days?
Further reading: The strange last testament of a multimillionaire nonagenarian for the benefit of the diocese of the bishop dit Falco – Liberation – “A humiliation for Paris, France and French Touch”, the Techno Parade 2025 canceled for financial reasons – The pain of the mother of Matis, the young dead worker buried under hot tar – The French women’s team is crazy about rage! – France-Germany: Delphine Cascarino, the “Dragster” of the Bleues which finds light in Euro 2025.