TDF 2015 - Stages 16 to 21

Stage 17 

Digne-les-Bains to Pra-Loup, 161kms

Wednesday July 22nd 

Following the second rest day in Gap, the riders start out on the first of four consecutive days in the Alps. “Four consecutive stages in the Alps, that hasn’t happened for a long time,” said Prudhomme and he's hopeful that the race can still be turned on its head on the final of the four days and the penultimate stage up to Alpe d'Huez.

This stage is notable for its nod to the past and the famous stage forty years ago that saw Bernard Thévenet prevent Eddy Merckx from notching his sixth Tour de France victory as Merckx showed that he was not in fact infallible. On that day in 1975, like on this, the battle should start early on the penultimate climb of the Col d'Allos. 

The route features no fewer than five climbs to get over with the Col des Lèques and the Col de Toutes Aures two gentle warmups inside the first 67kms. The Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel is a bit more serious though, climbing for 17.5kms at an average of 4.3%, cresting the climb with 65kms to go.

Following a short descent they start off on the climb up the Col d'Allos, a long 23.4kms stretch that averages 4.3% (although the categorised part is only 14kms long). The average is deceptive though as this climb starts gently and actually has a section for a kilometre that averages only 2.5% 6kms in.

The last 6kms are steeper though averaging closer to 7% with a section for a kilometre at 8.5%. From the top it's a very quick and dangerous descent for 16kms to the foot of the final climb up to the Pra-Loup. Those that take risks could pull out a lead on the more cautious before they hit the final climb of the day. Expect Froome to be put under pressure here by the likes of Nibbles and Bertie.

The Pra-Loup is over 9kms long from the base of the climb in Barcelonette but the first 3.5kms are almost flat. The categorised part of the climb though is just over 6kms at a nasty 8% average with several kilometres around the 10% level. The climb is pretty straight towards the top and eases off to 'just' 5.5% for the last 400m. No odds for this stage but I'll update the page as and when more information comes out later in 2015.  

 

 

 

 

 

 The Pra-Loup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 18 

Gap to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 185kms

Thursday July 23rd 

Gap is hosting a stage of the Tour for the 21st time, the last time it did so Christophe Riblon won that famouse stage on Alpe d'Huez after catching and passing Tejay Van Garderen.  

The is a strange kind of stage, where they start climbing right from the flag-drop, heading up and over the Col Bayard after just 6.5kms.. At 6.8% average gradient it's not exactly a gentle introduction! If you are feeling the effects of 17 stages in your legs it could be a very long day in the saddle if you get dropped with 180kms to go! 

It settles down a little bit for 80kms until they hit the Col de la Morte and it then drops 1000m in to the valley below the Col du Glandon. This beast of a climb will sort out the men from the boys a long way from the finish. From down in the valley the climb starts in Séchilienne and follows the Romanche river up to Allemond and the Barrage du Verney where it flattens out and descends a little and then kicks up again to the next dam at the Barrage de Grand-Maison. Again the gradient drops off around the Lac de Grand Maison before the final kick up to the summit which averages over 7% for the last 3kms. 

It's then a 25kms descent down in to the valley again before a final test on the climb of the Lacets de Montvernier.. It's a climb that is being used for the very first time in the Tour and I for one can't wait to see them go up it - it looks incredible!

It's a short but nasty ramp of 3.2kms at 8.5% average, but that doesn't really tell the story of the climb, it snakes through 18 hairpin bends vertically up the side of a cliff. The pic on the right shows the climb, but the video below shows just how amazing this climb looks, an awesome video shot with a drone camera. The road is very narrow and steep and will be the launching pad more than likely for the stage winner.

From the top there are just 10kms to the finish, 5kms of which are descending towards the finish in Saint-Jean de Maurienne. It could be a stage for the breakaway men, especialy considering how hard the next day's stage is, but that climb up the Lacets could see them catch the leaders as the likes of Contador and Quintana go after a stage win. 

Stage 19 

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles, 138kms

Friday July 24th 

The third of three days in the Alps and the climbing comes thick and fast again. Nearly 4000m of climbing, which starts right from the neutral zone with the climb up the Col du Chaussy which rises 1000m inside the first 15kms, which will see the inevitable early break build up a considerable lead. 

There's over 40kms until the next climb with nearly 30kms of flatish terrain along the valley floor. The second big climb of the day of the Col de la Croix de Fer has been used on 16 previous occassions. The last of which saw Frederik Kessiakof lead over the top in 2012, on the infamous stage that finished on La Toussuire also when Froome put Wiggins in trouble and was ordered to wait for his team leader. 

 

The Col de la Croix de Fer is a HC climb, a massive 29.5kms long at an average of 5.5%. There are parts that hit 9.5% though so it's certainly going to hurt a lot in the autobus on this the 3rd of 4 days in the Alps.. and it's only Alpe d'Huez the next day!

After a quick descent they start up the short and sharp side of the Col du Mollard, a 5.7km stinger which is pretty steep at the bottom, hitting 8-9% for the first 2kms, then it eases off to just 2.8% then kicks up again at the top to 8%. It's a 16km descent then to the village of Saint Jean de Maurienne, the start point for the final climb up to La Tousuirre.

The final climb is well known to Froome after his antics in 2012, but is also fondly remembered by Pierre Rolland as one of his greatest days and and up and coming start named Thibaut Pinot who finished second on the day ahead of Chris Froome in third. Nibali finished 5th, one place behind Jurgen Van den Broeck. 

It starts steep straight out of the village, 8.5-9% for the first 2kms, and this is probably where the likes of Movistar or Tinkoff-Saxo will put the hammer down to try to whittle the group down quickly. 

It then steadies down to 7kms at a pretty steady and consistent 6.5% before flattening out for a little while as they pass Villarembert. There are a few more kilometres at 7-8.5% but towards the top it starts to ease off again, getting easier for the last 3kms, finishing at a 4% average for the last kilometre. 

It was in one of the 7% sections that Froome went vroom and left Wiggo and Nibali behind with 4kms to go, only Pinot was able to stay close to him. When it eased off a little Wiggins was able to time trial his way back up but Pinot had used Froome's acceleration to launch a counter attack as Froome was called to heel but managed to outsprint Froome on the line. The other big story of the day was the audacious attempt by BMC to get Evans away with Van Garderen going up the road and Evans bridging but Cadel just didn't have the legs and ended up losing over 2 minutes. 

Nibali was also very active on the stage, attacking and getting away with 11kms to go, briding up to a breakaway with JVDB, and Pinot. I think most of the same characters will definitely be involved this time - Froome, Nibali, Pinot, but of course Contador and Quintana as well. It should be a brilliant spectacle to watch and hopefully we will have most of the stage live on TV.  

 

Stage 20 

Modane Valfréjus to Alpe-d'Huez, 110kms

Saturday July 25th 

Here we go then.. will it be the race deciding stage or will it all have been wrapped up already and it's just stage glory at stake? But it's not just any old stage glory, it's Alpe d'Huez stage glory!

The ASO have reverted back to just a single pass of the famous climb after going over twice last year for the 100th edition of the Tour. And what a stage we have in store though for the final day - it may be short at just 110kms, but in those 110kms they pack in the Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez! 

The start is nice and gentle, as they descend for more or less all of the first 13.5kms from the city of Modane. But it's likely to be fast and furious in the bunch as the escape hopefuls try to get away before the first climb of the day. Or you could say first two climbs of the day as the Télégraphe more or less runs in to the Galibier with just 3.5kms of a descent between the two.

The Télégraphe is 12kms long at an average of 7.1% at a very steady gradient, with one small section kicking up to 8.5%. Five minutes later they are already at the foot of the Galibier. 

The Galibier is much more irregular, especially in the first 10kms when it changes gradient constantly, varying between 2.5% and 8% and everything in between. 

The final 6kms are pretty nasty though as it suddenly starts to kick up to an average of 8.5%. This is where it's really going to hurt but it's too far from the finish to make a final selection of favourites who'll fight it out on the Alpe. And even if you are just off the back, up to a minute behind going over the top there is a good chance you'll be able to get back on as the descent off the Galibier to Bourg D'Oisans. 

What can you say about Alpe d'Huez that hasn't been said already? It's not the hardest of climbs but it's probably the most iconic in the whole world. The crowds will be wild and the riders will be pretty shattered at the end of a fourth day in the Alps and at the end of a short but hard stage. It will be interesting to see what the situation is going in to the stage as that will have a massive bearing on the way the stage is raced. Will the gap from 1st to 2nd be tight enough for it to be a shoot-out? Will the favourites have to wait and watch each other until the Alpe and maybe let a break get enough of a lead to hold on like in 2013 when Riblon won? Will someone like Contador go for an audacious attack early on on the Galibier, or will someone like Nibali attack on the descent to try to gain a lead on the likes of Froome and Quintana? 

There are odds out for it with Paddy Power - Quintana is the 3/1 favourite, followed by Contador at 9/2, Froome at 7/1 and Nibali at 9/1. Winner in 2013 Riblon is available at 150/1 but age is against him now, and Tejay Van Garderen, who came agonisingly close to winning that day is 33/1. But it's impossible to pick a winner now, come back nearer the time!

 

 

Stage 21 

Sèvres - Grand Paris Seine Ouest / Paris Champs-Élysées, 107kms

Sunday July 26th 

The procession in to Paris from Sèvres in the south west. No route or much information about it yet, but there's not a lot you need to know about this stage other than Marcel Kittel will probably win. But will it be enough to win him the green jersey??