Damage in sight for this weekend. After a rather quiet week, the riders will reach the Pyrenees on Saturday, July 13, for the 14th stage of the Tour de France between Pau and Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet. On the program, the Col du Tourmalet, but also another climb and a summit finish. Time for the best climbers to battle? Without a doubt. And the French could try to surprise the favorites, in a stage that has smiled on them in the past.
A new Pogacar-Vingegaard duel?
One each, ball in the center. After Jonas Vingegaard’s victory ahead of Tadej Pogacar in the 11th stage, the two favorites of the Tour de France are on one victory each in this 111th edition. With three climbs, two of which are classified hors catégorie, the two men will have a new chance to explain themselves on Saturday.
The Tourmalet pass, a French speciality?
“You’re big today!“, this sentence from sports director Marc Madiot towards Thibault Pinot still resonates in the heads of cycling enthusiasts. In 2019, the Frenchman won the 14th stage at the top of the Col du Tourmalet. Since 1947, it has been climbed 61 times, with only three stage finishes. But it is still as successful as ever for the Tricolores. During the last ten passages at the Tourmalet, the French have taken the lead seven times. Whose turn is it?
A crucial day for Evenepoel
After Primoz Roglic’s retirement on Friday, Remco Evenepoel remains the last one who can challenge the two big favourites for the final victory. The Belgian is still second overall, sandwiched between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. But this 14th stage could well destroy his dreams. During the first mountain stages, he appeared well below the two monsters even if in terms of lost time, he has, for the moment, limited the damage.