1 hour ago
Key events
Here’s how nan longest shape of this year’s Tour maps out:
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William Fotheringham
William Fotheringham’s shape guide
Stage 13, Friday 17 July: Dole to Belfort, 205.8km
The first of 3 days of climbing successful north-eastern France and nan longest shape of nan race, pinch nan intermediate sprint successful nan colony of Mélisey, location to nan retired French leader Thibaut Pinot. There is plentifulness of region to build a lead, truthful you would expect a triumph from nan breakaway by a climber who is besides a superlative descender, pinch nan first class Ballon d’Alsace – nan first upland walk to characteristic successful nan Tour successful 1905 – little than 15 downhill kilometres from nan finish. With a finale for illustration this, ultimate motorcycle handler Tom Pidcock whitethorn fancy his chances.
Preamble
Strap successful folks, we’re going agelong today. At slightest we mightiness get thing that resembles a breakaway today. The intermediate sprint comes pinch 68 of nan lengthy 205km to go, truthful unless nan sprint teams fancy trying to neutralise 130-odd kilometres of attacks thing will person to give. UAE Team Emirates whitethorn decide, arsenic they person passim this race, to springiness nan escapists a short leash but truthful agelong arsenic nan creation is suitable this really could beryllium a time wherever location is simply a chance of a breakaway winner. The Ballon d’Alsace is nan large beast successful nan roadworthy book, a class 1 ascent of 8.9km astatine 6.9%, that intelligibly intends nan victor will request to beryllium a much than decent climber, but they’ll besides request to person nan nous to get down nan different side. To maine it looks for illustration a Richard Carapaz benignant of people and EF Education-Easypost are yet to get a shape triumph successful this year’s Tour, but location will beryllium a fewer disappointment riders successful nan peloton eyeing this up. Get nan snacks in, settee in, this should beryllium (we really hope) a spot of fun.
