The two Slovenes, here this Tuesday on the 16th stage, could fight a hell of a battle on Wednesday at the Loze pass.

Christophe Ena -

AFP

  • German rider Lennard Kämna won the 16th stage in Villard-de-Lans on Tuesday.

  • The Jumbo-Visma quietly controlled the 40 seconds lead of their yellow Primoz Roglic jersey.

  • He expects to be attacked much more by his Slovenian compatriot Tadej Pogacar on Wednesday in a formidable stage between Grenoble and the Col de la Loze.

From our special correspondent in Villard-de-Lans,

An attack 400 m from the finish to send a message to the yellow jersey before Wednesday's terrible final at the Col de la Loze?

At the end of a 16th stage concluded in Villard-de-Lans without upheaval for the Top 10, Tadej Pogacar showed his compatriot Primoz Roglic that he would try to dynamite this last week of the Tour de France.

If the German Lennard Kämna

won this Tuesday, all eyes are obviously on the 21-year-old Slovenian from UAE Team-Emirates, revelation of this Great Loop.

“I expected a very well classified rider to try something at the end and Pogacar always shows that he has guts, underlines the solid lieutenant of the yellow jersey Wout van Aert.

Fortunately Primoz was able to follow him.

He always remains calm, which is one of his main assets.

Jumbo-Visma once again locked the peloton, letting slip a breakaway of the day without the slightest danger in the general classification.

⛰ A first day in the Alps promised to a backpacker!



🏆🇩🇪 Beaten at Puy Mary, @lennardkaemna does not miss another chance and will look strong for his first victory on the Tour!



🎬 Here is the summary of this 16th step! # TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/3FFcPi77Gw

- Tour de France ™ (@LeTour) September 15, 2020

"I have to keep an eye on Tadej Pogacar all the time"

"We controlled the race today, we have a strong and experienced team, so there is reason to remain confident", summarizes Tom Dumoulin, also at the forefront to support Primoz Roglic, who still has 40 seconds left. ahead of its Slovenian dolphin.

But the discreet yellow jersey knows that the real alpine danger will take place on Wednesday between Grenoble and this famous pass of Loze in Méribel.

“It will be the queen stage and the highest point of the Tour (2,304 m), recalls Primoz Roglic.

The last five kilometers of this route are insanely difficult.

Tadej Pogacar is my main rival and I have to keep an eye on him all the time.

"According to Eric Boyer, former climber and teammate of Laurent Fignon and then of Greg LeMond," Pogacar's objective must be to recover around thirty seconds on Roglic at the top of the Loze pass ".

How Primoz Roglic Learned Everything About Cycling In Just Five Years Via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/Gaz8aPHKCK

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) September 11, 2020

Towards "a very hard day of cycling"

“If he wants to go to the end this year, he must attack tomorrow, continues the ex-manager of Cofidis.

I do not think he must imperatively seek to seize the yellow jersey on Wednesday.

His team does not seem strong enough to protect him on the last mountain stage.

You could rather imagine him winning the Tour in the time trial on Saturday.

Eric Boyer does not forget that "Roglic showed a hint of weakness at the top of the Grand Colombier".

This recent episode inevitably gives ideas to Tadej Pogacar, who does not have a wait-and-see profile at the Nairo Quintana during the coronations of Chris Froome.

“On such a violent final, you can maybe grab a few seconds, but you can also lose a lot if you don't have the legs,” Pogacar timidly confides.

A facade of caution that Primoz Roglic also perfectly masters: “It will be super hard to control everything.

I don't have a specific scenario in mind, I'm just expecting a very hard day of cycling tomorrow ”.

Understand what a day is far more exciting for the spectators of the Grande Boucle.

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