Special envoy to Clermont-Ferrand
It is hard to see how this transition stage after an exhausting day in the sweltering heat on Tuesday could escape a sprinter. The coasts of Chaptuzat-Haut (1.9 km at 5%), coast of Mercurol (2.9km at 4.6%) then that of the Croix-Blanche (1.6 km at 5.4%) should not frighten the teams of sprinters who will not let the fugitives escape until the finish on a very flat track in its second part. The climbers and the favorites will not come out of the woods either to liven up the race. They will prefer to save for the weekend, decisive with the arrival of the Alps. After this stage, we should also see a little more clearly on the chances of the green jersey to finish in Paris with the precious tunic.
The fictitious start will be given at 1:05 p.m. The actual start will be given at 1:25 p.m. and the arrival is scheduled for around 5:30 p.m. with an average speed of 44 km/h.
France 3 from 12.55 p.m. then France 2 from 3 p.m.
“I expect a stage with a breakaway that will start early with five riders in front, no more. They will perhaps take a three or four minute lead but normally they will be caught because the course is flat. If Marc Cavendish hadn’t given up, I would have bet on him. Philipsen seems a little too classic to bet on him, so I’m going to say Pedersen. He won in Limoges as a strong man and seems to me to be in excellent dynamics.
The Notre-Dame de l’Assomption cathedral dominates Clermont, dark (built in lava stone), it offers a firework of colors from the inside thanks to its stained glass windows. A visit to complete with the discovery of the Notre-Dame-du-Port basilica, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. History lovers will flock to the archeology museum of the Battle of Gergovie, not without having visited the glorious statue of Vercingetorix on the Place de Jaude.
Moulins, which houses the Jean Carmet Film Festival, is full of curiosities such as the museum of stage costumes and its 10,000 pieces, the Mantin house, home of a wealthy bourgeois who has undergone impressive restoration, the museum of the Order of the Visitation or the astonishing Iron Bridge 316 meters long.
Never change a winning team. The Tour de France stays in Auvergne our recommendations always revolve around the Auvergne hotpot, a good truffade and a good cheese platter with a good portion for Saint-Nectaire and Fourme d’Ambert. In Moulins, a potato pâté will quickly satisfy the fiercest appetites. A detour to the confectionery or chocolate factory is highly recommended to fill up on Palais d’Or. To be tested, the piquenchâgne, a Bourbonnais cake made with pears. Tasty.
It is never very glorious to have wool under the nails. It simply means that one rider grabbed on to another’s jersey to take advantage. An expression that has disappeared over time, athletes having abandoned wool for much more comfortable and efficient synthetic materials.
Example: “Avoid sticking to him in the finale, he has a bad reputation for having a lot of wool under his fingernails that one.”
