It’s a cliché as previous because the race itself: you may’t win the Tour de France within the first week, however you may definitely lose it.
Sunday’s ninth stage, the final earlier than the primary relaxation day, is a kind of that threatens to crush goals. Happening across the city of Troyes, it counts fourteen gravel sectors, stretching out over 32km, and stands out as a singular parcours in this yr’s version.
For the Classics riders, the one-day specialists, the day presents an thrilling probability for a stage win. For the GC riders, nonetheless, there is a concern the anticipated chaos may result in expensive losses.
“I feel Sunday is a tricky stage, it is undoubtedly not a simple stage,” mentioned Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step), who sits second general. “It is a area that at all times goes up and down, a area of usually the primary levels of Paris-Good, that are at all times powerful ones.”
For the Belgian, whose expertise racing on gravel is sparse, an important factor will probably be positioning, and to reach “prepared for combating”.
“I feel between the favourites, if all the things occurs in a traditional means, there should not be too huge gaps,” he mentioned. “In the long run, I feel it is not a stage that may make any individual win the Tour, however if in case you have dangerous luck throughout the day within the unsuitable second, it may make you lose the Tour, for those who’re a bit unfortunate.”
It’s going to come as no shock that Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates), race chief and Strade Bianche winner, is licking his lips on the gravel stage.
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“I am trying type of ahead to it,” the Slovenian mentioned. “I did a recon, so I do know what’s ready for us. I might say it is not like probably the most enjoyable stage, but it surely relies upon how we race, depends upon the wind, depends upon the climate, depends upon the peloton, what they need to do.
“I feel it may be a variety of varieties how the race can go, however I feel I am prepared for all. Usually, I like these sorts of levels, however you by no means know what can occur. We’ll see, we’’l see.”
Different riders are much less excited. Chatting with Biking Weekly, Jai Hindley (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) lower a relaxed determine whereas he forecast a day of anxious racing.
“I feel it will likely be tremendous tense,” he mentioned. “I did not do the recon, however from what the blokes instructed me, the gravel will probably be chaotic, but additionally the roads in between are actually shit. If it is windy there, it’ll even be chaos.”
Does the Australian assume gravel has a spot within the Tour route? “For certain,” he mentioned. “In the long run, you’ve to have the ability to do all the things.
“Again within the day, once they had been using up the mountains, it additionally wasn’t on tarmac, you understand what I imply? I feel it additionally has a component. Not everybody agrees, however I feel it is all a part of the historical past. It nonetheless deserves a spot despite the fact that it is chaotic and might break some races.”
Stage 9 will start in Troyes this Sunday at 12:15 UK time. The primary gravel sector will come after simply 47km of racing, with the ultimate one 10km from the end. The longest sector extends 4km.
