Cycling: Tomorrow the 2018 Tour of France will be in the mountains for the last time. Two real heavyweights await in the Pyrenees, the Col du Tourmalet and the Col d'Aubisque. Since the 19th stage is also very long, there could be changes in the overall standings again. In our Tour de France preview, however, we expect a win from another large breakaway group.
6 mountain classifications await on the king's stage of the Tour de France
The royal stage the 105th Tour de France leads the pros from Lourdes over 200,5 kilometers to Laruns. In the middle of the high mountains of the Pyrenees almost have to 5.000 meters in altitude be mastered. While the brave sprinters fight for survival once again, the class drivers sense their last chance to bring about change. Immediately after leaving the pilgrimage site of Lourdes near the Spanish border, the section begins with two easy climbs. Here should be group of the day develop. A large escape group is to be expected again, as many teams want to try out tactical variants and the teams who have not been successful so far want to seize what might be their last chance of a day's success. Already 134 kilometers before the finish the well-known Col d'Aspin attacked, but due to the distance to the target it is not given a decisive character. However, about 100 kilometers from the finish line, things get down to business: with the Col du Tourmalet the final begins.
Tour de France preview: The mountain classifications of the 19th stage
- 193,5km to go: Cote de Loucrup (4rd category / 1,8 km at 7,2%)
- 160,5km to go: Cote de Capvern-les-Bains (4rd category / 3,4 km at 5,1%)
- 122,0km to go: Col d'Aspin (1rd category / 12,0 km at 6,5%)
- 92,5km to go: Col du Tourmalet (highest category / 17,1 km at 7,3%)
- 41,0km to go: Col des Borderes (2rd category / 8,6 km at 5,8%)
- 20,0km to go: Aubisque Pass (highest category / 16,6 km at 4,9%)
The descents could also decide the race
The 19th stage of the Tour de France demands everything from the riders in the peloton. Overall it applies six climbs to master and finally race down every mountain again. But also them length of the stage plays a major role. More than 200 kilometers have to be completed - and with 18 stages already in the legs. In addition, some professionals have nothing left to lose. Quite possible that at the summit of Col du Tourmalet - after which there are still 92,5 kilometers to the finish - an exciting racing situation has already arisen. We finally experience the finale in the three-part final climb. On the Col des Borderes A small descent follows, then another unclassified climb and another descent before the Aubisque Pass goes up. In addition to the skills to climb, tomorrow will also be the downhill skills queried. Especially when it then goes down the last 20 kilometers to the finish and, in addition to the stage winner, the winner of the Tour de France could also be chosen.
Velomotion prognosis: Rafal Majka finally catches the right group
This year at the Tour de France in the mountains some breakaways finished in front of the peloton. Unfortunately never got the right group Rafal Mayka (Bora-hansgrohe). At the beginning of the races, the Pole was mostly active. He was involved in numerous attacks. However, when the group of the day was standing, he was either no longer in front or he was unlucky that the fugitives were caught by the peloton after all. In our Tour de France preview of the 19th stage, we assume that he will use his last chance and finally be able to get the right group. But then he has to compete with numerous top climbers, all of whom can no longer fight for the yellow jersey, but still want to win a stage. Among other things, this would also be trustworthy Mikel Nieve and Adam Yates by Mitchelton-Scott, both of whom have already tasted success. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin), Bob jungels (Quick-Step Floors) and Ion Izaguirre (Bahrain-Merida) could also get the Go from Sky. They would definitely all be strong enough for the last stage win in the Pyrenees.
***Rafal Majka
** Mikel Nieve, Ilnur Zakarin
* Adam Yates, Bob Jungels, Ion Izagirre
