Climbs, cobbles, and crosswinds. Make sure you don’t miss these six must-watch stages. - By Joe Lindsey
STAGE 2, JULY 5
Utrecht to Zelande, 166 km
A full 198-rider peloton will be seeking victory or trying to stay out of trouble as the race hits crosswinds on the North Sea coast that could split the race into echelons.
What does it feel like? Soul crushing. For context, in just a 15 kph headwind compared with one half as strong, a rider must put out 50 percent more watts to maintain 30 kph.
STAGE 4, JULY 7
Seraing to Cambrai, 223.5 km
Of this nearly 223km stage, what matters most is the 13 km of cobblestones—more than half of which come in the last 25 km.
What does it feel like? Bone jarring. There’s nothing quite like the centuries-old pavé of northern France. It’s like trying to maintain 30 to 40 kph riding between railroad tracks.
STAGE 10, JULY 14
Tarbes to La Pierre-Saint-Martin, 167 km
Following the initial rest day, and with no warmup ascents before the summit, this first mountaintop finish will likely put an end to someone’s Tour dreams.
What does it feel like? The Col de Soudet is rarely used in the Tour, but at 15 km and 7.4 percent average grade, it’s a legitimate Grand Tour climb.
STAGE 12, JULY 16
Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille, 195 km
This one’s a killer: four major climbs (more than 3,500 metres of climbing) and four more stages after this until the rest day. The summit finish on Plateau de Beille starts out steep, with 4 km averaging almost 9 percent, and backs off only slightly from there.
STAGE 19, JULY 24
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles, 138 km
The race is likely to be won or lost today. At just 138 km, the course climbs literally from the start, which favours opportunistic attackers. Four climbs, including the hellish Croix de Fer, culminate in the summit finish at La Toussuire.
What does it feel like? Roughly 55 of the 138 km in this stage go up.
STAGE 20, JULY 25
Modane Valfrejus to Alpe d’Huez, 110.5 km
If standings are close, the final ascent of Alpe d’Huez could be this year’s climax. The long descent from the Galibier will likely bring splits back together, so expect ceasefire from the big guns. But at the base of Alpe, last-chance stage-win hopefuls will battle the GC riders to the top for bragging rights.
What does it feel like? Hard. ‘Nuff said.
via Bicycling » Tour de France http://ift.tt/1LJPuGo
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