2023-07-14 23:30:38
A master hors d’oeuvre in the Jura followed by two main courses in the Alps. It’s a three-day weekend everywhere in France, except for the peloton which is about to experience a triptych of the most au gratin.
If we summarize, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard will resume their fabulous fight, slightly put to sleep since the puy de Dôme on Sunday. As for the French climbers, they will try to create a surprise and give a second stage success to the French camp.
Difficult to know where each other will attack as the menu is tough. We still present to you the three major meetings of this weekend.
Friday: the dry climb of the Grand Colombier
The profile. It is nicknamed “the pyramid of Bugey”. 17.4km of ascent with an average gradient of 7.1%, that’s enough to take a little height (1501m) in the Jura (and not in the Alps). The effort promises to be violent from the foot of the pass in Culoz, the only difficulty of a very short route (137.8 km).
Profile of the Grand Colombier
A slight flat area allows you to breathe after the very winding first third, but very quickly, passages of more than 12% reappear, especially just before the place called La Sapette. If Pogacar and Vingegaard still neutralize each other at this point in the race, a final raid placed 400m from the finish could make some differences.
The eye of the expert. Thierry Gouvenou, race director: “We’re expecting an incredible explosion here. Everything is calculated for this. It’s not a steady climb. The switchbacks are incredibly beautiful and offer incredible views of the Rhone and the Alps. If you get to the bottom of the ascent at full speed, it hurts and incredible failures cannot be ruled out. »
The story. Tadej Pogacar won the one and only finish at the top of the Tour of this Jura giant. It was in 2020. A week after his first coup at Laruns, his birth certificate, he did it again by beating his Slovenian compatriot Primoz Roglic thanks to his “jump”. Pogi is more than ever revived in the race for the yellow jersey. We know the rest, he did a classic time trial the day before from the Champs-Elysées to the Planche-des-Belles-Filles.
Rating: 17/20
Saturday: the final bouquet of Joux Plane
The profile. It will no longer be July 14 but 15, but it will still be a party on the roads of the Tour. The peloton will have to send themselves five climbs on the lands of a certain Victor Lafay with a denouement in the legendary out of category Joux Plane (11.6km at 8.5%, 1691m altitude). Nobody can really tell us why, or how, but this climb makes some calves tremble. Same for the descent to Morzine, extremely technical and fast. While the disappearance of Gino Mäder last month is still on everyone’s mind, the riders’ union (CPA) welcomed the work done by the Tour organizers to limit the risks.
Profile of Joux Plane
The eye of the expert. Pierre Rolland, double stage winner, 8th overall in 2012: “I really don’t have good memories. The whole stage will be conducive to movement, that’s why I find it the most complicated, but Joux Plane is really special. Even Lance Armstrong was apprehensive. We don’t really know why. This climb often occurs at the end of the race after a series of passes. It is then necessary to succeed in keeping juice and lucidity for the descent. »
The story. There are quite a few, actually. In the 1980s, Joux-Plane was the nightmare of a certain Pedro Delgado. In 1984, he left his collarbone there before giving up the next day. Three years later, this fall still haunts him, and while he is in the yellow jersey five days from the Champs-Elysées, he concedes 18 seconds over his rival Stephen Roche. The Irishman did not ask for so much and will end up crunching it in Paris. Lance Armstrong also had a hard time taming this mountain. In 2000, when he was about to win one of his many adulterated titles, he went through one of the biggest failures of his career. He was dropped by all his rivals and lost two minutes to Jan Ullrich in a stage finally won by Richard Virenque.
Note : 19/20.
Sunday: the mythical ascent to Saint Gervais-Mont Blanc: 18/20
The profile. Sort of a mix of the two previous battles, this stage is not placed for nothing just before the rest day. A breakaway could undoubtedly go on an adventure in the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin-Col de la Croix de Fry sequence. You will then have to take the interminable path towards Saint Gervais-Mont Blanc (1372m). This climb is divided into two: first there is the very steep Côte des Amerands (2.7km at 10.9%), then 7km at 7.7% towards the tourist resort.
Profile of Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc
The eye of the expert. Charly Mottet, 4th in the 1987 and 1991 Tour: “It’s the hardest piece for me. We will accumulate the fatigue of two days in the high mountains. There are almost no valleys. The Côte des Amerands is a farm road with portions at 16 or even 17%. She could do a first skimming. Afterwards, there are still beautiful ramps and a very uneven course. Here, no catch-up session with a descent. You will have to respond to the pedal. »
The story. In 2016, Romain Bardet perhaps achieved the greatest feat of his career there. It’s raining heavily when the AG2R rider attacks with his friend Mickael Chérel. Manager Vincent Lavenu orders them to change their minds and not take any risks. They defy the ban and set off on their own for the final ascent. Bardet catches up with the last breakaway Rui Costa and scores decisive points in his conquest of 2nd place overall.
On his Strava account, he will say this about the Côte des Amerands: “I don’t have the words. ” An entire program.
Note : 18/20.
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