All the stage information you need, including why it matters, which riders to watch, and who to root for.
STAGE PREVIEW
Stage 13: Muret to Rodez, Friday, July 17, 198.5km
A classic transitional stage, this long day sees the race put the Pyrenees in the rearview mirror. But while there are no major passes, it’s anything but flat. The profile is relentlessly up and down all day, a kind of terrain the French call casse-pates, or leg breakers. In typical ASO fashion, the race organisers list three categorised climbs, but one of the steepest and longest stretches, a climb to La Primaube just 10km from the finish, isn’t even rated. If the field somehow is all together, or the break is just one or two riders, the finish could factor strongly in the points competition. It’s a fast run-in to Rodez with a tricky near-switchback turn at 600 metres into a short, sharp climb (9.6 percent) to the line.
Why It Matters
For the challengers, the goal is to go unnoticed all day. They will want to stay quietly in the pack, eating and drinking as much as possible to recover, all while expending just enough energy to stay in the front third of riders and out of as much crash danger as possible. For the rest of the field, it is a stage that’s tailor-made for a breakaway.
Who to Watch
The final, unmarked ascent to La Primaube should produce the winner—either from the day’s original break or a late counter-move. Today is a good day for a punchy, Ardennes-style rider. Look for a team like Orica-GreenEdge, which doesn’t have a traditional GC contender but is excellent in breaks, to drive the move. And any team whose overall hopes have hit the gutter will be active as well. Expect Peter Sagan to be active as well. Even if a break is up the road, the Tinkoff-Saxo rider could use the finishing climb to add to his points total in the green jersey competition; the rise to the line suits him well, and his primary competitor, Lotto-Soudal’s Andre Greipel, not at all.
Click on the map to enlarge.
via Bicycling » Tour de France http://ift.tt/1fPdf32
No comments:
Post a Comment