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Le Tour '18 stage 12: Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Alpe d'Huez 175k
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19-07-2018 9:16am#1Stage 12 is the last stage in the Alps, starting in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and ending on top of the Alpe d'Huez.
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The first climb is the 2000 meters tall Col de la Madeleine, a 25 kilometer long climb at a modest average gradient. The average gradient doesn't tell the whole story, since the climb is irregular, starting steep, becoming shallow, before the last two thirds of the climb, which is mostly steep at percentages of 9-10%.
Madeleine has featured in the Tour since 1969, and some names, which have reached the summit first, are mountain goats such as six-times winner of the polka-dot and Tour winner in 1976, Lucien van Impe - seven-times polka-dot winner (a record standing to this day) Richard Virenque and two times Giro winner Gilberto Simoni.
After a descent down to La Chambre, the riders climb the beautiful Lacets de Montvernier, which featured in 2015.
After that little challenge, the long Col de la Croix de Fer awaits.
2067 meter above sealevel, the Pass of the Iron Cross has an average gradient of 5,2%, some parts almost flat or going slightly downhill, but with some kilometers reaching an incline of 9-10%. The climb is steepest from the 6 to the 12 kilometer mark, and the last 6 kilometers are steep as well.
If the legs (or your heart) are aching it this point, I can't help you, because the summit finish is still to come.
Not the longest nor the steepest climb, but the many hairpin bends are easily recognizable. It is steepest in the beginning, and a section 4-5 kilometers from the finish, reaching a gradient of 11,5%, before easing at the end. It is, ladies and gents, l'Alpe d'Huez.
The climb first featured in 1952, where Fausto Coppi won the stage featuring it, and the saying that “whoever wears the yellow jersey in the Alpe wears it in Paris” was fit to Coppi that year. This year, unlike the last couple of times,
Another notable stage winners on Alpe d’Huez are Joop Zoetemelk, winning twice there (1976 and 1979), 5 times Tour winner Bernard Hinault in 1986, the first South American GT winner, Luis Herrera, and Italian Gianni Bugno in 1990 and 1991.
In 1995 and 1997 the famous Marco Pantani, Il Pirata, set a record time of 36’40 on the Alpe d’Huez, over 3 minutes faster than Nairo Quintana's 2013 ascent.
A tale of the decisive role the Alpe d’Huez plays, was in 2008. Carlos Sastre attacked from the bottom in a tactical attack, since Fränk would mark Cadel Evans and counter-attack, in case the Australian would get up to him. He couldn't, and so Sastre won the stage in overwhelming fashion, 2 minutes in front of Schleck brothers, Valverde and took the yellow jersey from his team mate Fränk Schleck and minimizing the threat from Cadel Evans, expected to be strong in the time trial. Sastre won the Tour with 58 seconds down to the Australian, after managing to ride a good time trial.
In 2011 Thomas Voeckler had the maillot jaune, but after a heroic performance on Galibier, he couldn’t follow the favourites anymore. Cadel Evans hung on to the Schlecks
with Andy taking the yellow jersey 57 seconds in front of the Australian, who eventually did rip the yellow jersey away from Andy Schleck in the penultimate stage, a long time trial, which Tony Martin won in front of Cadel and Alberto Contador.
Fast forward to 2013, the victory was again contested between the break away. That day was the first, that the superior-looking Chris Froome showed weakness, getting dropped by Joaquim Rodriguez and Colombian maillot blanc Nairo Quintana.
Only losing 1 minute, Froome, but that could have been more, as Richie Porte illegally handed Froome some energy gels, at the price of a 20-second penalty. The stage was contested by Tejay Van Garderen, Moreno Moser and Christophe Riblon, winner on Ax-3 Domaines in 2010. The Frenchman won, passing Van Garderen, who looked to be on his way to victory, with some kilometers to go.
In 2015 another Frenchman crossed the finish line on the Alpe first. It was one, who was hyped up, especially by his countrymen before the Tour, but a difficult start turned him to a stage hunter: Thibaut Pinot. After messing up an almost sure victory in Mende, which Steven Cummings took, he took his revenge on the Alpe, barely making it to a furiously chasing Nairo Quintana.
Will we see another ride of redemption tomorrow, or will the GC favorites contest the stage? Chris Froome has won on Zoncolan and Ventoux, but his name is still not to be found on the slopes of the Alpe. Will he destroy everyone once again and put the pretenders in their place, or will he and team SKY pay for their efforts today?
General classification after stage 11:
1. Geraint THOMAS (SKY)
2. Chris FROOME (SKY) + 1' 25''
3. Tom DUMOULIN (Sunweb) + 1' 44''
4. Vincenzo NIBALI (B. Merida) + 2' 14''
5. Primoz ROGLIC (Lotto-NL) + 2' 23''
6. Steven KRUIJSWIJK (Lotto-NL) + 2' 40''
7. Mikel LANDA (Movistar) + 2' 56''
8. Romain BARDET (AG2R) + 2 58''
9. Nairo QUINTANA (Movistar) + 3' 16''
10. Dan MARTIN (UAE) st.
Polka-dot jersey competition after stage 11:
1. Julian ALAPHILIPPE (QST) 61
2. Serge PAUWELS (DDD) 49
3. Warren BARGUIL (Fortuneo) 40
4. Rein TAARAMÄE (Direct Energie) 36
5. Rudy MOLARD (Gr. FDJ) 22
Points jersey competition after stage 11:
1. Peter SAGAN (Bora) 339
2. Fernando GAVIRIA (Quickstep) 218
3. Dylan GROENEWEGEN (NL-Jumbo) 132
4. Alexander KRISTOFF (UAE) 129
5. Arnaud DEMARE (G. FDJ) 106
6. André GREIPEL (Lotto-Soudal) 106
Weather forecast for...
...Col de la Croix de Fer:
...Alpe d'Huez:
The Bookies take!
Froome 2/1
Thomas 8/1
Quintana 8/1
Martin 16/1
Barguil 20/1
Majka 22/1
Bardet 25/1
Tom 25/1
Landa 27/1
Nieve 20/1
Roglic 33/1
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In work watching yesterday's highlights and got all excited Advertisement