The day after a day of rest, the riders of the Tour de France will restart with a stage for particularly rugged adventurers on Tuesday, between Vulcania and Issoire.
With five second and third grade ribs on the menu, this 10e stage presents a profile which automatically eliminates all sprinters. “It’s a very difficult recovery. There is almost no dish. It’s going to play leapfrog with the hills and even the small passes all day long. It’s really reserved for adventurers,” underlines technical director Thierry Gouvenou.
“I don’t see the riders in the general standings getting involved in this area. But riders like Julian Alaphilippe really have what it takes to get a stage victory,” he continues.
Fairly compact (167.2 km), the route will, after an unprecedented departure from the European volcanic park Vulcania, pass over the Cézallier plateau, one of the favorite places of Romain Bardet, one of the regionals of the stage.
“These are roads a bit from another time. You don’t meet anyone, there are old centers of cross-country skiing. The roads are not wide. We see some steppe landscapes. We are going to show magnificent facets of Auvergne, ”underlines the climber from the DSM team, who assesses the chances of a breakaway to go to the end at 80%.
“The adventurers will be motivated. I know one who will be particularly, and it’s Rémi [Cavagna]. They are runners, when they set off on the flat, you have to tighten the toe clips, ”he adds.
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