Carlos Rodriguez wins stage 14
Stage 15 features three category 1 climbs, with the longest being the Col de la Croix Fry at 11.3km with an average gradient of 7%. This climb will shed whatever remains of the peloton that hasn’t been dropped on the previous climb, Cold de la Forclaz Montmin, and will leave the GC contenders and climbers to battle it out in the final 50 kilometers. But these kilometers will not be easy with Col des Aravis (4.4km@5.8%), Cote des Amerands (2.7km@10.9%), and Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (7km@7.7%) still ahead of the riders.
With a rest day on Monday, teams will be riding stage 15 full-gas to secure their GC positions or go for a stage victory. Expect an early breakaway in the first 40 kilometers, a strung out peloton, and GC rival teams pushing the pace hard. The final 1.5 kilometers of the last climb, Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, have a gradient of 9-10%.
Stage 15 Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Giulio Ciccone, Thibaut Pinot, Michael Woods
Stage 15 Profile
Tour Talk
“Tomorrow [stage 15] another tough stage with an uphill finish awaits. It will be super important to send riders ahead.” – José De Cauwer, cycling analyst.
“The start of the final climb [stage 15] is very tough, with parts at 17 percent. After a short descent you think it’s not too bad, but it’s not. The legs explode when you have to climb again. It is possible that a rider from the early breakaway wins, but he will have to be able to climb.” – Marc Sergeant, analyst and ex-pro.
“I wanted to do the descent [stage 14] as quickly as possible. Vingegaard and Pogacar started looking at each other, so I went full throttle. I wanted to take advantage of that. I didn’t take too many risks, but I almost crashed.” – Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers)
“We rode the race [stage 14] like we wanted to. Wanted to make it a tough day. No regrets, we gave it everything. Jonas was really strong but Pogačar was right there with him. It’s still a huge battle.” – Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma).
“It was a super tough ride today [stage 14] and it was also our intention to make it very tough, so it’s a shame that it’s [GC] still so close together.” -Wout van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma).
We [Jumbo-Visma] had a plan [on stage 14]. We’re happy with one second. They [Vingegaard and Pogačar] were both on the limit. You hope that Pogačar will crack through all that work, but that didn’t happen. So, that was it.” – Team Jumbo-Visma.
“It was a hard day [stage 14] Jumbo-Visma rode super fast and I tried, but Jonas was strong enough to come back. I felt good all day. I can look forward to the next few days with confidence.” – Tadej Pogacar (UAE).
“I think my first sprint was for nothing. But it wouldn’t have changed the outcome, I think.” – Tadej Pogačar (UAE) on the motorcycles that blocked him in stage 14.
“In the end I think that Jai [Hindley]survived the stage well. He has had to fight but has distributed his effort well. Today [stage 14] we were unlucky, but hopefully tomorrow will be different.” – Enrico Gasparotto, DS (Bora-hansgrohe).
General Classification
- Jonas Vingegaard (DEN, Jumbo-Visma) 46h 34’27”
- Tadej Pogacar (SLO, UAE Team Emirates) +10″
- Carlos Rodriguez Cano (ESP, Ineos Grenadiers) +4:43″
- Jai Hindley (AUS, BORA – hansgrohe) +4:44″
- Adam Yates (GBR, UAE Team Emirates) +5:20″
- Sepp Kuss (USA, Jumbo-Visma) +8:15″
- Simon Yates (GBR, Team Jayco AlUla) +8:32″
- Pello Bilbao (ESP, Bahrain – Victorious) +8:51″
- Felix Gall (AUT, AG2R Citroën Team) +12:26″
- David Gaudu (FRA, Groupama) +12:56″
