Those who thought they had put the mountain aside by having the Alps at their back risk being surprised on Saturday with a twentieth stage of the Tour de France which risks doing great damage to the tired peloton after three weeks of racing. The menu for this penultimate day of the Grande Boucle is indigestible: six passes, two of which are first category and a difficulty increasing to a crescendo over only 133.5 km. Suffice to say that the stalled riders will not have time to breathe on the plain to try to hang up the wagons with the peloton.
This one will start the day by climbing the Ballon d’Alsace (11.5 km at 5.2%), then the Col de la Croix des Mionats (5.2 km at 7%), followed by the Col de Grosse Pierre (3.2 km at 8%). In the second part of the route, you will have to swallow the Col de Schlucht (4.3 km at 5.4%), the climb of the Petit Ballon (9.3 km at 8.1%) before climbing the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1 km at 8.4%). You will therefore have to be very, very strong to win this formidable and magnificent stage.
The fictitious start will be given at 1:30 p.m. and the real start at 1:45 p.m. with an expected arrival around 5:05 p.m. with an average speed of 40 km/h.
France 3 from 12.55 p.m. then France 2 from 3 p.m.
“I think a breakaway will go all the way. There will be two races in one. The first for the stage winner and the second for the general classification and the second or third place since victory seems to have been won at Vingegaard. I see a very difficult stage and the victory of Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers). But the top three in the general classification should remain unchanged. Pinot, like Alaphilippe should be part of this breakaway but I don’t think they will be able to go for the victory.
Belfort is a town accustomed to the passages of the Grande Boucle since it will be a stage city for the 32nd time. The city of Eurockéennes, a famous pop/rock music festival, is home to a magnificent citadel by Vauban (17th century) as well as the emblematic Lion of Belfort (19th century), a sculpture by Auguste Bartholdi.
The Markstein Fellering station, in the Haut-Rhin, brings together 1650 souls, the Felleringeois and Felleringeoises. Known for its 48 km ski area, it has seen Clément Noël grow up, the Olympic slalom champion in 2022. A passage through the Grand Ballon culminating in the Vosges massif at 1424 m seems unavoidable. A trip to the castle of Wildenstein and its 13th century remains will delight lovers of old stones, but children will undoubtedly prefer the exceptional panorama of the summer toboggan run.
In Belfort, opt for the fried carp without forgetting a tasting of Munster accompanied by a Jura wine. At the Markstein Fellering, you absolutely have to turn to a sauerkraut or smoked collar with roïgabrageldi, a specialty made from potato, bacon and white wine. Do not hesitate to discover the fleischschnacka, meat snails. To be paired with an Alsace wine such as Riesling or Gewurztraminer.
Expression that refers to the jargon of the motorcycle consisting of increasing its speed with strong acceleration like a motorcyclist putting full throttle.
Example: “I tried to stay in his wheel but he screwed up the handle and I lost it.”
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