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Morning all, everyone well?
Another day int he mountains awaits, lets see what we have in store.
Sunday 6 September - At 154 kilometres, stage 9 on the Tour de France serves the second test in the Pyrenees. The race between Pau and Laruns tackles three ascents to an elevation of more than 1,000 metres. The finale flies downhill into the valley for a false flat run-in of 6 kilometres.
Pau and La Grande Boucle belong to each other like a dog to its boss. It is the most visited location in Tour de France history. In 106 editions the town hosted La Grande Boucle 72 times. Pau adds one more visit to its tally in 2020. Last year, Julian Alaphilippe stormed to victory in the town in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
This time the riders click into their pedals in Pau for a virtually flat opening of 50 kilometres. Then the Col de La Hourcère appears, which is a tough test. The ascent is 11.1 kilometres long and slopes at 8.8%. A short descent leads onto the next climb, the Col de Soudet. Peaking out at the highest point of the day (1,540 metres), the ascent is 3.8 kilometres at 8.5%.
A descent of roughly 20 kilometres takes the riders back into the valley before they tackle a hilly zone leading up to the last climb. The Col de Marie Blanque is 7.7 kilometres long and the average gradients sits at 8.6%. So that’s yet another steep climb, although the first part is doable. Consequently, the second part is even harder with gradients hovering around 12%. The first three riders over the Marie Blanque gain time bonuses of 8, 5 and 2 seconds.
A downhill of 12 kilometres flies down into Bilhères-en-Ossau. The riders storm through the village to tackle the last 6 kilometres, a section that runs slightly uphill.
Two editions ago the Tour also featured a finish in Laruns. The riders came from the other side. After attacking in the downhill of the Aubisque, Primoz Roglic outgunned a group with Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome and Tom Dumoulin. The Slovenian took the spoils.
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 Col de Marie Blanque are awarded 8, 5 and 2 seconds.
Stage 9 of Le Tour starts at 13.30 and the race is expected to finish around 17.15 – both are local times (CEST).
The contenders?
The Contenders: another good day for the breakaway and also for the overall contenders, it’s the rest day tomorrow so plenty will be all in today and hopefully we get two races today. Who’s going to win? Just sit back and enjoy the uncertainty, today’s another wheel of fortune spin, because on the flat roads there’s a lot of luck and tactics about who gets away. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) lost 18 minutes yesterday, once he knew he couldn’t climb with the best he pulled up the parking brake to give him room to attack. L-L Sanchez (Astana) also looked to have sat up yesterday, yes he’s ageing but he’s climbing well from the way he dispatched everyone at the Spanish championships and team mates Ion Izaguirre and Alexey Lutsenko are ones to watch. Alessandro de Marchi (CCC) was tipped yesterday but his team mate Zakarin went up the road, does he try today? Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) has had back problems, if he’s over them he’s got a good chance. Pierre Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) might feel its his time after Peters yesterday. Is Davide Formolo (UAE Emirates) retained to protect Pogačar, if he can play his own card he’s one to watch.
Among the GC contenders the Slovenian tandem of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) are the obvious picks. Pogačar’s floating on the climbs while Roglič is strong, descends well and can snipe the sprint.
And as ever, yesterday:
I reckon the break would go early but be blitzed by the soudet so a soloist who can jump the GC group seems the most likely option; Sivakov? If he's given the chance.. or Dan Martin
Pogacar to pull the pin again, and this time Roglic will go with him.
cagey stuff so far....
think Niro will go for it today
cagey stuff so far….
More just absolutely all-out and chancing things - peloton not happy with any of the selection so far, bit of ebb and flow. When the break finally goes, it's going to get a big gap in the blink of an eye as the peloton finally sits up and breathes a sigh of relief.
Aru popped ? already!
Aru popped ? already!
Looks more like a mechanical, he's still going OK.
The commentators were talking about punctures earlier, mentioned that Pogačar was (relatively) so far down due to 3 punctures in the first week and I can't believe that tubeless is not more widely used. I know it's not perfect but if it allows you to keep riding until a more appropriate time for a bike change can be found, it's a no-brainer. It'd save a rider standing by the side of the road waiting for a team car - means you can get on the radio, call it in, then sit at the back of the bunch and wait for the car to come up.
Aru is getting massively pissed off now, he's way down and getting further back because of a badly timed puncture while the bunch is doing 55kph trying to set up a break.
if this carries on someone big might get away here! no one with the legs to chase it down.
this is like a points race 😀
poor old Aru - I had the same sort of ride this morning 🙁
this is like a points race 😀
Full on attack and counter now isn't it?! Fascinating to watch.
Getting close to it settling down now, the bunch spread over the front of the road and just occasional riders popping out and being allowed to go.
has it gone ?
(sunweb x3 !)
odious are trolling jumbo
nope that still looks like an angry peloton
working so hard
jesus, they've ****ed up the entire peloton now !
this mental!
peloton? what peloton!
Poor Thibault Pinot. Pedalling squares up the side of a mountain with a camera bike following every move. Who'd be a pro bike rider....someone might be answering the 'what lube for inserting a telephoto lens up your arse' question shortly
Who’d be a French pro bike rider…
Herschi looks really good on a bike, I just wish his handlebars were a bit wider!!
Herschi looks really good on a bike, I just wish his handlebars were a bit wider!!
Weird bullhorn style double-stem on that Cervelo.
COME ON!!!
Bollocks, I just burst a blood vessel screaming at that
I am now a massive Hirschi fan.
What a ride.
I am now a massive Hirschi fan.
Yep, man crush activated!!
So many times you see the breakaway guy just fall off the back once caught, that was a mighty impressive effort to hit the line by Hirschi.
I am now a massive Hirschi fan.
Phenomenal descending!
Phenomenal descending
Made Cancellara look pedestrian!
Sure, Hirschi is a good rider, but can he do this?
https://twitter.com/outofcycling/status/1302635685699088388?s=21
Pass the eye bleach would you?
I don't know what to make of Yates rolling in with Valverde or is it Valverde rolling in with Yates.
Yates doesn't seem to have the legs this year, think he might struggle to get a stage win but night manage a top 20 position.
Garmin mount is the new spinacci bars. If they can do it on the tour down hill, why can’t I in a break at the ‘don?