Special envoy to Bordeaux
The heat is back on the Tour de France peloton which will have to cover just over 200 kilometers to connect Libourne to Limoges with a route favorable to riders and which should offer some breakaway opportunities for adventurous punchers. If the first part of the stage promises to be very flat and rather monotonous, the passage at km 123 of Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière will mark the arrival of a rugged terrain with a series of climbs with, first, the Côte de Champs-Romain (2.8 km at 5.2%) first, then at km 184 the Côte de Masmont (1.3 km at 5.5%) before a final difficulty, at km 191, the coast of Condat-sur-Vienne (1.2 km at 5.4%). An explosive finale that could be very spectacular. Many punchers have marked this step on their agenda.
The fictitious start will be given at 12:30 p.m. The actual start will be given at 12:45 p.m. and the arrival is scheduled for around 5:19 p.m. with an average speed of 44 km/h.
France 2 from 11.55 a.m. then France 3 at 12.55 p.m. and return to France 2 from 3 p.m.
“Not much should happen as the favorite teams will control the race in a slightly hilly stage without much difficulty. The sprinter teams will ride at the end and I see a sprint finish even if a breakaway will start at the start of the stage. Beware of the heat which risks weighing on the bodies of the runners. I would see Bryan Coquard on a slightly uphill finish which may be favorable to him compared to the other pure sprinters.
Libourne is back on the Tour de France map two years after being a stage city for the fourth time in its history. A good memory for Tadej Pogacar wearing the yellow jersey in the Gironde sub-prefecture. Bastide town and port founded in the 13th century by Chevalier Roger de Leybourne, Libourne will host the Romanian team during the Rugby World Cup. We will not fail to admire the Tower of the Grand Port but also the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church which houses a relic of the Holy Thorn of Christ.
In Limoges, the city that saw the birth of Luc Leblanc, world champion in road cycling in 1994 and the prestigious Limoges Cercle Saint-Pierre (basketball), the first French club in all sports to have won a European Cup (Korac Cup in 1982), we will take a detour to Saint-Etienne Cathedral. The Adrien-Dubouché museum houses a superb collection of porcelain, which has made the city famous.
Good wine lovers can take a tasting break in Libourne with three renowned appellations: Lalande de Pommerol, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. In Limoges, it would be a shame to miss out on a piece of Limousin beef or a potato pâté. Do not hesitate to try the galetou, a pancake made with buckwheat flour.
Clever stratagem used by riders to save themselves and take advantage of a short tow from his team’s car while keeping his hand clinging to the bottle held out by his manager.
Example: “We are in the sights of the race marshals. No need to try to use the glued can today guys. »
