Everything you need to know about the race and its side with the twelfth stage between Auch and Hautacam.
The profile of the stage: Auch-Hautacam (180.6 km)
The mountain, finally! The Tour de France enters the Pyrenees this Thursday with a twelfth stage long of 180.6 kilometers drawn between Auch (Gers) and Hautacam (Hautes-Pyrénées). The first two thirds of the route will be without relief, or almost, and therefore conducive to the formation of a (large) escape. The last third, for its part, will be very demanding with the Col du Soulor (11.8 km at 7.3%; km 134.1), the Col des Bordères (3.1 km at 7.7%; km 145.7) and finally the legendary climb to Hautacam (13.5 km at 7.8%) which should, certainly, a good battle between favorites, the first in such a long ascent. The yellow jersey may well change shoulders this Thursday evening!
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Writing favorites and big rating
How not to think of Tadej Pogacar in this first major mountain stage? The title holder can knock out Meêm competition if he could suffer from the consequences of his fall in the final in Toulouse on Wednesday.
Can the big rating: Can Jonas Vingegaard go to find Tadej Pogacar on a field which should be more favorable to him than the coasts of the first part of the Tour de France? The Danish appreciates the long ascents and if he wants to reverse the trend in the general classification, he cannot afford to wait. It is up to him to be offensive … if he has the means.
The schedules of the twelfth stage
The fictitious departure will be given at 1:10 p.m. since Auch and the real departure at 1:25 p.m. The arrival is scheduled for 5:44 p.m. with an average of 40 km/h.
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How to follow the stage on TV
France 2 from 12:00 pm then France 3 at 12:55 pm and return to France 2 at 3:00 pm. In full by paying on Eurosport.
The curiosity of the day
It is the fourth time since 1903 that the Tour de France will put its suitcases in Auch. Several places are to be visited in this city of art and history: the Sainte-Marie cathedral (XVe century), the Armagnac tower (XIVe century), Fedel house (XVe century) or the statue of D’Artagnan. If you want to discover the Gers prefecture, we advise you to taste its gastronomy, including Bigorre black pork and local foie gras.
Hautacam has been a high place in world cycling since 1996 and the legendary victory of Bjarne Riis, which will win the big loop that year. The climb, very difficult, will welcome the runners of the most beautiful race in the world for the seventh time in its history. Around the four-season mountain station, you can in particular go to the thermal baths of Argelès-Gazost (XIXe century), at the Château de Beaucens (XIVe century) and at the Château de Lourdes (XIe century).
DR
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The expression of the day: “to do the rudder”
Be in the last position of the peloton.
