Special envoy to Combloux
After having been spied on, gauged, intimidated, attacked since the Grand Départ in Bilbao, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard will continue their fight for leaders from a distance in the only time trial of the Tour de France 2023. A time that does not is not long, only 22.4 km but steep with an uphill finish. The two big favorites for the victory went to carefully reconnoitre the course during the rest day.
Who will be in the freshest state heading into the final week of racing? And who will best adapt to changes in pace, and there are many, in this time trial that will benefit the climbers? The climb to the Domancy coast, which entered into French cycling legend with the coronation of Bernard Hinault at the 1980 Road World Championship, could allow the Slovenian or the Dane to make the difference, especially in the first part (in black on the graph below), the second being more rolling.
The first runner, Michael Morkov will start at 1:05 p.m. with a scheduled arrival at around 1:41 p.m. The riders will start in the opposite direction of the general classification. Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick Step) will for example be at the start at 4 p.m., Tadej Pogacar at 4:58 p.m. and Jonas Vingegaard two minutes later with a small advantage over the double winner of the Grande Boucle since he will know the part-times of his big rival left in front of him.
France 3 from 12.55 p.m. then France 2 from 3 p.m.
“I think Tadej Pogacar will finish ahead of Jonas Vingegaard with a lead of ten seconds, the Dane maintaining the advantage for a few tenths ahead of his pursuer in the general classification. Wout van Aert should be able to get third place.”
Passy, a commune in Haute-Savoie, will be a stage town for the first time in its history. Outdoor sports enthusiasts meet there every summer to take advantage of mountain biking routes and cycle paths with a view of the majestic Mont-Blanc. Art lovers will stroll along the Contemporary Sculpture Route to discover twelve monumental open-air sculptures. Surprising.
Combloux is also hosting the Grande Boucle for the first time, offering 14 km of mixed routes and numerous marked and equipped mountain bike trails. In the center of the town, enjoy a short night stroll to admire the 18th century Saint-Nicolas church and its 19th century double onion bell tower which rings until very late at night. The building has very nice lighting. Also worth seeing is the graniters’ trail retracing the history of the exploitation of Mont-Blanc granite, of which there is an unobstructed view.
Never change a winning team. Haute-Savoie is the country of cheese, reblochon and tomme. Fondue raclettes can be found in practically all the establishments of the resorts. With a bit of luck, you will be able to come across the farcement, a savory cake made with potatoes, bacon and dried fruit. Best enjoyed on winter evenings.
A rider in oil is an athlete at the end of his tether on a bicycle, whose engine has given up the ghost, hence the reference to oil.
Example: “In the climb of the Col de Porte, we all made oil.”
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