The mountain arrives at the Tour de France and Pojjar in yellow

In the heart of the Vosges mountain range, the multicolored peloton will challenge the first great wall of the 109th version of the Grande Boucle, 1,140 meters above sea level, a climb of seven kilometers and an average gradient of 8.7 percent, which will culminate in a 176.3-kilometre route starting from tomblin.

For the Slovenian Pogacar, the champion of the last two rounds, the Planche des Belles Filles is fond memories, because he was at the top of his surprise victory in 2020 in the most famous race in the world, and then ruined his dreams. His compatriot Primoz Roglic, at the gates of the Paris Champs Elysees.

The ski resort is already a legend, despite its youth, since it debuted in 2012 on the classic route and this will be the sixth time the racers have visited.

Before, the Planche des Belles Filles was decisive in the victories of Britain’s Chris Froome (2012) and Italy’s Vicenzo Nibali (2014).

In this version of the Tour de France, the Vosges mountain pass precedes the colossal peaks that cyclists will find in the Alps and the Pyrenees, some out of class, so it would be too hasty to say it would make up the afternoon. Define climbing.

For Grand Boucle director Christian Prudhomme, the stage will showcase the physical form of the main contenders on the podium.

Six stages later, Pogacar leads the singles general classification, just four seconds ahead of American Nielson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) and 31 over Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaaard (Jumbo-Visma), last year’s runner-up.

rgh / wmr