Let's go for the great fight in the Alps.
The climbers have been gnawing at their brakes for a week and this first stage in the high mountains is for them, the day after a seventh stage which has worn down the bodies.
It is 150 kilometers long and leaves Oyonnax (Ain) at 1:10 p.m. for an expected arrival in Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) at around 5:05 p.m.
The eye of Thierry Gouvenou, the technical director of the event
“We didn't do this too long stage with only 150 kilometers. but we did a fairly short but arduous triptych between Mont-Saxonnex, the Col de Romme then the Col de la Colombière, it is still very steep. La Colombière in particular, it can be tiring because you can quickly see the summit but there are several kilometers left before the commit. In addition we go each time in this triptych by the difficult side. That's three great passes in the end. You must not have the leg that trembles because it may pay off. "
🚵♀️ @LeTour de France arrives in #Savoie #HauteSavoie, to tackle passes and mountains!
4 days show & party:
03/07: Arrival Grand Bornand
04/07: Cluses - Tignes
05 and 06/07: Fan park & start Albertville
🎉 Entertainment #SavoieMontBlanc Cluses & Albertville pic.twitter.com / X5XQMO2Seu
- Savoie Mont Blanc (@SavoieMontBlanc) July 1, 2021
Oyonnax, and two
This is the second time in its history that the Tour has called in Oyonnax, the second most populous city in Ain with its 22,000 inhabitants.
The first time that the great Barnum landed his caravan in the city, it was for a stage finish in 2014. The Tour came from Besançon (Doubs) and Tony Gallopin had raised his arms on the line.
The Frenchman had taken the yellow jersey two days earlier for 24 hours but at that time it was owned by Vincenzo Nibali, who kept it all the way to Paris.
Big names have won in Le Grand-Bornand
Le Grand-Bornand, on the other hand, appears more often on the Tour map.
This is the 7th time in a quarter of a century that the town of Haute-Savoie has hosted the race.
The first winner here is called Alex Zulle.
It was in 1995 and the yellow jersey of the day was a certain Miguel Indurain.
In 1999 and 2004, it was Lance Armstrong who triumphed on these lands but his name was erased from the charts.
In 2009, the winner was named Franck Schleck.
Alberto Contador is in yellow.
In 2013, Rui Costa won and Chris Froome was in yellow.
2018?
Julian Alaphilippe wins the stage and Greg van Avermaet is in yellow.
Big names of the Tour have won in this resort and big names of the Tour have climbed the podium here to put on the yellow jersey.
A sign for this Saturday?
Our predictions
The stage is obviously promised to a climber. The question is to know where the organizations are after a week of racing and a very trying seventh stage. Trapped by Wout van aert this Friday, Tadej Pogacar owes revenge. Richard Carapaz also seems to have legs.
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