ANALYSIS
It does not yet have the history of the great passes of the Alps and the Pyrenees, but the ascent of La Planche of the Beautiful Girls, near Belfort, is already, after only three passages in the Tour, one of the classics of the test. And that, the rise to the station of Haute-Saone (7 km to 8.7%) owes its programming often early in the race but also to its original topography.
The Groupama-FDJ team has published a video presentation of the rise ...:
"This is not high mountain in terms of altitude, but it is atypical as climb", noted in the Club Tour our consultant Thomas Voeckler, who found himself several times escaped on his laces in previous passages on the Tour (2012, 2014 and 2017). "The road is wide at the beginning, with percentages at 13%, then then, it is not so harder than that (2nd km at 6.7%), then it's getting harder and harder. is extremely hard on the end (with a passage to 20%) and then there is the last last kilometer that has been added, with a passage to 24% and a road that has been asphalted for the occasion. "
A transition to 24%
In fact, in order to further increase the climb, the organization has added to the climb a last kilometer, which borrows gravel portions, 9.5% average, with even a peak at ... 24%. "When the winner comes out of the ramp that leads to the line, the public, from the finish line, will see first appear a helmet, then glasses, then a face.This will be beautiful," enthuses advance the race director, Thierry Gouvenou.
But what face? One thing is certain, since his arrival on the Tour in 2012, La Planche des Belles Daughters has smiled to the greatest. In 2012, Chris Froome wrote the first chapter of his story with the Tour. Two years later, Vincenzo Nibali had won solo, signing the founding act of his only success on the Tour. Finally, in 2017, another Italian, Fabio Aru, won. Three riders, only winners of Grand Tour.
And this fact too: every rider who has endorsed the yellow jersey after La Planche won the Tour in the wake (Bradley Wiggins in 2012, Nibali in 2014 and Christopher Froome in 2017). The favorites may have this data in mind on Thursday.
Six difficulties before La Planche ...
However, Thomas Voeckler thinks that Julian Alaphilippe, who has 25 seconds in the overall standings on the first of the favorites, the Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma), at the start of this 6th stage, can keep the yellow jersey. . "What we must not forget is that we will be at the end of five days of Tour de France, and that the riders will not be in the same state of fatigue that they will be in the pass Iseran for example (during the 19th stage, in the third week), that's what makes me believe that Julian Alaphilippe will keep the Maillot tomorrow (Thursday) For me, the teams of leaders will want to bring them in safety at the foot of La Planche des Belles Daughters, without trying anything before. "
Because yes, there is not only the plate on the menu this Thursday. The riders will have to cross six other difficulties before, including two of the first category and two of the 2nd category, including the Chevrères pass (3.5 km at 9.5%, 19 km from the finish), at the top from which will be distributed bonus seconds. We do not know if there will be a big fight this Thursday between the contenders for the final victory in the Tour, but in any case, the organization did everything to ...