a high mountain course conducive to an explanation between favorites… The 19th stage in questions

The first of the three stages of the Alpes-Maritimes offers a high mountain condensed, Friday, with three passes in 145 kilometers.

After a hilly stage on Thursday, the riders of the Grande Boucle will be back in the high mountains on Friday, July 19. Between Embrun (Hautes-Alpes) and the Isola 2000 ski resort (Alpes-Maritimes), perched at an altitude of 2,024 m, the peloton will have a very tough course, with more than 4,000 m of positive elevation gain.

What is the profile?

For the first day of the final triptych in the Alpes-Maritimes, the riders will be served. Starting from Embrun, the peloton will head directly towards the non-category Vars pass (18.8 km at 5.7%). Forty-five kilometers later, it is the summit of Bonette that will rise up before them, a new non-category climb. Its summit, at an altitude of 2,802 m, is the highest in the history of the Tour, which is venturing there for the fifth time.

Its long 40 km descent will then guide the riders towards the last difficulty of the day, the climb towards the Isola 2000 resort (16.1 km at 7.1%) where the finish is located. The sprinters, for their part, will be able to relax their effort after the intermediate sprint which will take place in Guillestre after 21 km of racing.

Who are the favorites?

Today’s stage is undoubtedly promised to climbers. Riders in shape on the last mountain stages like Felix Gall, Adam Yates or Giulio Ciccone could thus try their luck even if we expect a new explanation between the two favorites of this Tour de France 2024, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.

It’s simple, the two opponents have won all the high mountain stages since the start of this 111th edition. And the advantage clearly goes to the current yellow jersey. The Slovenian has, in fact, won three of these four stages, including the two taking place in the Pyrenees. Jonas Vingegaard, however, remains a formidable opponent. On a course with a similar profile, the Dane won the Granon stage in 2022.

What are the schedules ?

12:00 p.m. : start of broadcast on France 2 and france.tv.

12:20 p.m.: fictitious departure

12:30 p.m.: actual departure

12:56 p.m.: intermediate sprint in Guillestre

1:44 p.m.: Vars pass

3:06 p.m.: Bonette summit

4:28 p.m.: expected arrival at the Isola 2000 station, at an altitude of 2,024 m