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Hills, we finally have some hills!!!!
The longest stage of the Tour de France ventures deep into the heart of France. Getting more and more hilly along the way, the race from Chauvigny to Sarran amounts to 218 kilometres.
Chauvigny is as French as it gets. Beautifully situated on a river – the Vienne – with a castle and ancient church towering high above the houses. The peloton leaves this highly picturesque scene behind to head southeast.
The route gets more lumpy along the way. Rolling hills make way for the more demanding climbs of the Massif Central, a highland region in the heart of Southern France. The toughest uphill en route is the Suc au May. The first three riders atop this 5.7 kilometres climb at 8.8% gain time bonuses of 8, 5 and 2 seconds.
With breakneck speeds the riders continue to Sarran in the Corrèze region. The village of 300 inhabitants hosted the Tour de France once before. In 2001, Jens Voigt dropped his fellow-attacker Bradley McGee on the last climb of the day. Given the distance and the lumpy nature of the race, the breakaway is likely to be successful again in 2020.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds. Furthermore, as mentioned, the first three pilots over the Suc au May are awarded 8, 5 and 2 seconds.
Stage 12 of Le Tour starts at 11.50 and the race is expected to finish around 17.10 – both are local times (CEST).
Who'll be in for this one then, a break? A climber? To hard for a sprinter?
The Contenders: enough of the past, what of today’s future? When the route was announced last October this looked like a “Sagan stage”, a sprint from a reduced peloton but on inspection it’s too hilly for most of the sprinters. So the likes of Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep), Oliver Naesen (Ag2r La Mondiale), Matteo Trentin and Greg Van Avermaet (CCC), Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott), Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) and maybe Edvald Boasson Hagen (NTT) could probably win with their sprint, but most likely out of a breakaway.
Otherwise sprinkle some of the names above with the usual breakaway baroudeurs like Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Alessandro de Marchi (CCC), half of Sunweb like Tiesj Benoot, Marc Hirshi, Søren Kragh Andersen, Quicksteppers like Bob Jungels and Rémi Cavagna, or Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ). If these riders don’t get in the move today they can try tomorrow.
And as ever, yesterday.
Textbook French village shot.
Textbook Tour over sunflowers shot.
Textbook girl on a horse with the peleton in the background shot.
Tight finish.
The top 2.
I didn't see any of it yesterday - I know the result but yet to watch the highlights.
Hoping to get the highlights repeat this morning and then the live coverage.
Breakaway to win - the bunch have had enough from the last couple of days of edgy nervous crashy smashing it.
And if I may congratulate you on your choice of photos above @lunge ! Nice work. 🙂
They are the classic, "textbook" Tour pics aren't they @mogrim? We're maybe missing a tree-lined avenue and a good bridge, but we've got a good few bases covered there!
The https://cyclingtips.com/ photo albums are stunning, well worth a glance.
Hershi for today or a random EF Education soloist.
Great image of the WvA and Sagan after the finish ^^^
The only threat to a breakaway win is if Sagan gets in the break. DQS are gonna want to shut that down to protect Sam Bennett's green jersey.
We’re maybe missing a tree-lined avenue and a good bridge, but we’ve got a good few bases covered there!
Perhaps also the peloton riding past one of those displays the local farmers put on, all their tractors or hay bales lined up to make the shape of a bike, that kind of thing?
Is it just me or is there a bit of niggle between half the peleton and Sagan?
I can understand that he's not on WvA christmas card list at the moment but I've seen him exchanging word with Trentin too.
Perhaps also the peloton riding past one of those displays the local farmers put on, all their tractors or hay bales lined up to make the shape of a bike, that kind of thing
Oh yes, definitely need those.
Not sure if we'll get it this year, but screaming fans with smoke in the air surrounding the riders up a mountain stage.
Is it just me or is there a bit of niggle between half the peleton and Sagan?
The general consensus within the media / commentators is that he's simply lost his form and that slip from champion to also-ran is causing mental anguish and "trying to hard" syndrome resulting in mistakes or stupid decisions.
As a result, he's pissed off a lot of other people within the peloton but he's probably also upset because he's no longer getting quite the level of respect he used to.
We need a textbook image of a sprinter storming off to the team bus and being unavailable for comment
The general consensus within the media / commentators is that he’s simply lost his form and that slip from champion to also-ran is causing mental anguish and “trying to hard” syndrome resulting in mistakes or stupid decisions.
Dunno, he was chucked off the Tour in 2017 after wiping out Cav, and that same year he won the World's... I reckon he's always been willing to take risks.
Sagan has been holder of the unofficial "Best All Round Rider in the World" title for as long as anyone remembers.
Now the likes of WvA are starting to surpass him, I think its putting pressure on him that he isn't used to dealing with.
Id like to see yatesy get in the breakaway today, not sure it will happen though!
Anything interesting going on yet?
Yes, yes there is. Hirshi is riding like a man possessed.
Anything interesting going on yet?
Yes, some bloke called Marc Hirschi is riding really fast at the front and a Mr J Alaphilippe is getting most upset that he isn't up the front but is unable to do anything about it.
This is good now, it's going to be a nailbiting finish!
Excellent finish, nice to see a break get away 🙂
Friendship ended with Sam Bennett.
Marc Hirschi is my new best friend.
What a win!
It was only a matter of time before a big win for Hirschi. Well earned after all his efforts earlier in the tour (both away on his own and helping Cees Bol in the sprints). Looking forward to seeing what he can do next.
It's gotta be the most satisfying way to win a stage in the TDF. Descending around fast corners with a pack on your tail with the glory of a stage win hanging in the balance, I'd be buzzin my tits off!
Hirschi throwing his hat in to the best all rounder ring. He can climb a bit, he can TT a bit on a solo break, he can sprint a bit.
Another couple of years and he and WVA could produce some epic battles I reckon.
Great ride from Hirschi, splendid tipstering from Weekschi
I have a feeling that tomorrow may be nuts, too