Monday’s rest day was not too much for the 169 survivors of the Tour de France who will continue crossing the Massif Central with a stage eagerly awaited by backpackers in oppressive heat since the temperature could reach 36 degrees around Issoire in the afternoon with risk of thunderstorms. Christian Prudhomme considers this stage to be “the most beautiful” of the 2023 edition. Probably not the most relaxing either since it will have no less than five difficulties (in third and second categories) which should lead to a fairly early skimming in the ranks of the sprinters (they will be able to take their revenge on Wednesday in an 11th stage more cut out for them). “Places will be expensive to join the breakaway,” predicts Prudhomme who can see Julian Alaphilippe or Mathieu van der Poel trying something. “It’s a true classic profile,” judge for her part Marion Rousse, the consultant for France Télévisions who foresees a second week even harder than the first.
The fictitious start will be given at 1:05 p.m. The actual start will be given at 1:20 p.m. and the arrival is scheduled for around 5:31 p.m. with an average speed of 40 km/h.
France 3 from 12.55 p.m. then France 2 from 3 p.m.
“On paper it will be a very nice stage rather favorable to adventurers. There are a lot of runners who have checked it off their diary for the month of July (laughs). The whole team is mobilized to shine, especially with a downhill finish which opens up more opportunities than with an uphill finish. It’s hard to name a name, but it can appeal to a boy like my teammate Mads Pedersen, Simon Clarke (Israel – Premier Tech), Rui Costa (Intermarché Circus Wanity) or Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education Easypost), those who are accustomed to slipping into a strong breakaway. There won’t be many other opportunities in this Tour for the fighters and they won’t give way to the sprinters. »
Vulcania, the scientific theme park on the Puy chain welcomes the Tour de France for the first time. The site, its planetarium (the largest in France), its shows and its entertainment are essential for visitors to the Massif Central in the splendid and relaxing Auvergne setting, a few kilometers from the mythical Puy de Dôme.
Issoire will bring back excellent memories to Thomas Voeckler, who, in 2011, experienced a new epic in yellow by settling in the good breakaway of the day. Second behind Luis Leon Sanchez, he had put on the leader’s tunic for ten days on the Grande Boucle. Passing through the sub-prefecture of Puy de Dôme, a city designated the most sporting in the Massif Central in 2016 in its category, a visit to the abbey church of Saint-Austermoine (12th century), a masterpiece of Romanesque art , is required.
In the heart of the volcanoes, a good Auvergne hotpot is a sure choice unless you opt for a truffade, just before digging into a generous cheese platter including Saint-Nectaire and Fourme d’Ambert, of course. In Issoire, one of the specialties at the table is called Yssoirien, a cheese to be enjoyed without moderation with the local pastry, Suprême d’Issoire. In the glass, test the Boudes wines.
Unfortunately, we salt the soup when we use illicit products to perform better.
Example: “He dropped us on the climb to Peyrolles. We couldn’t do anything, I wonder if he didn’t salt the soup a little too much.