For the tribute to Raymond Poulidor
Limousin was a figure, a must in the Tour de France.
Died last November, he will be in the spotlight this Thursday, with the passage of the stage in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat (114th km), his stronghold.
For the longest stage of the Tour
If the shortest stage of the edition will be reserved for the parade on the Champs-Elysées (112 km), on September 20, the longest, the only one which exceeds 200 km this year will be contested this Thursday with 218 km between Chauvigny and Sarran.
For backpackers and punchers
They are not often in the spotlight on this Tour, stuck between the sprinters and the candidates for the general classification.
The 12th stage offers them the opportunity before the difficulties encountered towards the Puy Mary (13 stage) and the Grand Colombier (15th stage), to distinguish themselves, like Jérôme Cousin, the red lantern, who has already tried his luck.
The punchers who could also be inspired by the profile and the final like Julian Alaphilippe freed from any ambition in the general classification.
For the yellow jersey
Primoz Roglic ticks the days, advances his pawns.
In a race in which all the stages follow the falls, there is no such thing as a quiet day.
Leaders are on the alert.
Nervousness is contagious.
The risk is present almost at all times.
And the Slovenian ensures not to worry about Bernal and Ineos-Grenadiers: “What they are preparing does not change anything for us.
We only care about ourselves and what we can do. ”
For the Suc au May
A curiosity posed 25 km from the finish, he proposes percentages (527 m; 3.8 km at 7.7%) which should allow a breakaway to go to its end by disrupting the initiation of the pursuit. of the peloton.
A really difficult second category, difficult, with strong percentages.
I think there will be two battles, that of the stage victory with the breakaway which should come off in the first kilometers with a strong group and at the end we will have to remain vigilant with the favorite group, 25 miles away. these are difficult, technical roads and we can find favorites at the front. ”
A last difficulty of a day marked by 4 passages offering points to climbers on which Benoît Cosnefroy will try to defend his polka dot jersey.
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Tour de France 2020: The general classification