Colmar (AFP)
"It's the Super Planche des Belles Daughters!" Enthuses Race Director Christian Prudhomme when he talks about the final climb, Thursday, of the 6th stage, the first finish at the top of the event.
The organizers added an extremely steep kilometer (up to 24%) on a compacted lane compared to previous arrivals. The climb, classified in the first category, offers 7 kilometers, 8.7% average slope, to reach the small and unique resort of Haute-Saone, a short distance from the home of Thibaut Pinot.
The course, which begins in the plain of Alsace in Mulhouse, connects six climbs in the Vosges, by the Markstein, the Grand Ballon, the Hundsruck and the venerable Ballon d'Alsace, the first climb climb in the history of the Tour ( in 1905).
The little pass of the Chevrères, on a narrow and sloping road, precedes the Planche des Belles Filles, one of the discoveries of the recent era. Since 2012 (victory of Chris Froome), the Tour has already returned twice, in 2014 (Vincenzo Nibali) and 2017 (Fabio Aru).
Departure from Mulhouse at 13:05, launched at 13:25, arrival at La Planche des Belles Filles around 17:42 (average calculated at 37 km / h).
? 2019 AFP