Without possible discussion the queen stage of this Pyrenean triptych! This Saturday, July 19, Act III of the first mountain range of this Tour de France will offer runners a very classic but still formidable sequence and almost 5,000 meters of elevation to climb. On the menu of this 14th long stage of 182.6 km, first 70 flat terminals from Pau, then a second part in the shape of roller coasters with four successive passes without real valley to be able to recover: the Tourmalet (19 km at 7.4%) will be climbed by Luz-Saint-Sauveur and will launch hostilities, before Aspin (5 km at 7.6%), Peyresourde (7.1 km at 7.8%), and finally the reunion with the very demanding final climb of Luchon-Superbagnères (12.4 km at 7.5%), back on the Tour After 36 years of absence (victory of Robert Millar in 1989).
Video – Mauro Gianetti, Manager of UAE, evokes this 14th step
The pass of 5 for Pogacar … or a decisive breakaway for the polka dot jersey?
Winner of the first two stages in the Pyrenees, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will have the opportunity to take the hat there and win your 5th bouquet on this 112nd edition. In the event of arrival between favorites, it is difficult to imagine another outcome in view of the superiority displayed by the world champion and carrying the yellow jersey in front of his rivals, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and other Florian Lipowitz, Primož Roglič (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa – B&B Hotels), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) ou encore Felix Gall (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale) being certainly condemned to fight for the podium and the places of honor.
But if the Slovenian appetite calms down a little and decides to let his teammates blow, the opportunity is beautiful for a big breakaway and an excellent climber distant to play a prestigious stage victory. Especially since with 55 points in play for the ranking of the best climber, currently led by … Pogacarthe contenders for the pea jerse should not be missed to get ahead of the Slovenian, starting with the one who is his dolphin, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious).
Among the other runners that can be shown in front, we think in particular of Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-trek), Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), Carlos Rodriguez, Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet (Groupama-FDJ), Jordan Iat (TotaalEnergies), Enric Mas (Movistar), Ben O’Connor (Jayco-Alula) … Some of them could also take the opportunity to make a close to the general, depending on the race scenario. A step not to be missed under any circumstances!
The journey of the 14th stage
– Saturday July 19 – STEP 14 : Pau – Luchon-Backs / 182.6 km
