Invited to comment on the third week, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar cited the same three stages where their duel should be played, “but it is not only one of the three that will be decisive”, assured the Dane, joined by his pursuer.
A chrono in solo
Here is at least one day when they will not be wheel in wheel. Tomorrow, the duettists will battle at a distance over the 22.4 km time trial between Passy and Combloux. The Yellow Jersey will start last (5 p.m.), two minutes after Pogacar, on a flat course for 16 km before the Domancy coast (2.5 km at 9.4%) “where the two will fight for the victory of ‘stage,’ imagines Wout van Aert, Vingegaard’s teammate. With an advantage for which? “I like short lap times and when there are a lot of changes of pace”, reassures the Dane from Jumbo-Visma, who had consolidated his victory in the final time trial last year on a longer course. but rich in reminders (8” better than Pogacar over 40.7 km). “I think there will be differences in the time trial,” predicts the Slovenian from UAE. Without saying in favor of whom.
L’interminable Loze
Up there will be the Henri-Desgrange souvenir, the highest point of the Tour, at 2,304 meters and after 28.1 km of climbing at an average of 6%. Welcome to the Col de la Loze, “one of the hardest climbs in the world” according to Pogacar, which will conclude the 17th stage between Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and Courchevel, Wednesday, bumpy on three hills before this giant landed in 2020 on round. Again, it’s hard to say who this suits best. The last nine kilometers, never below 7%, plead for the current leader, but certain walls (passage to 24% in the penultimate kilometer or to 18% in the final ramp of Courchevel) would be ideal springboards for the double Tour winner if the legs follow.
Explosive Vosges
If everything remains to be done after these two battles, the organizers have planned “a mini Liège-Bastogne-Liège” on the eve of the arrival on the Champs-Élysées, in the Vosges, between Belfort and Markstein. A short stage (133.5 km), without a flat meter, “explosive”, promises Pogacar, winner of the Doyenne in 2021 and for whom the day seems drawn. “When we thought it was a stage that suited Tadej, Vingegaard took time and vice versa,” recalls his manager Mauro Gianetti with a smile, who just warns that his colt will “attack” until he recovers the yellow jersey. .
