The Tour arrives in France with a stage with a classic aroma. It is a route with four fourth category ports, perfect for a well-organized escape to be crowned. The final section close to the coast can present gusts of wind that will increase the excitement of the day.
In a journey of 171.5 kilometers the cyclists will have to overcome six ports of the fourth category. Wout Van Aert arrives at the event with the yellow jersey and faces a perfect day for his qualities. The duel with Van der Poel is sung on the route between Dunkerke and Calais.
“The passes are not insurmountable”, estimated the race director, Thierry Gouvenou. “But his placement on the stage will be paramount, as it is often windy in the Pas-de-Calais and in the Flanders mountains,” he added.
Six ports, all classified fourth categoryare staggered along the route, followed by a coastal route for the last 25 kilometres.
The first is located in Cassel (km 30), the emblematic place of the Four Days of Dunkirk, the last on the limestone cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez (km 160), which is one of the famous places of the Opal Coast.
“We can expect a very dynamic finish”, announced the director regarding the finish in the Pas-de-Calais, where the sprinters may also think they have a chance to fight for victory.
Calais (76,000 inhabitants) receives the Tour for the third time. But on the first two occasions, in 1994 and 2001, the city had only hosted one stage start.
The feeling of Colombians
Rigoberto Urán, from Antioquia, who has had multiple mishaps at the beginning of the Tour, remains optimistic.
“Luck has not been on our side at this start. We continue in the fight, there will be days to come back, the important thing was that we saved these three days, with crashes like that of the Tour, but without serious consequences”.
For its part, Nairo Quintana, has had no setbacks, saving yourself from falls. “Everything is going well, we have avoided the big falls. We have been vigilant, attentive, running in the face of what inevitably generates nervous tension”.
Daniel Felipe Martínez, who is the best of the nationals placed in the general standings (22nd place) has suffered some scratches, but without relevance. “I am going to wait for the mountain that will be the decisive part. We have riders to battle on all terrains and we will see what is coming in this difficult Tour. I had a fall and there are scratches, but there is nothing relevant”.
Martinez added that at the speed of running, falls can be very dangerous, but they know what they are dealing with.
“The Tour de France so far is starting. The most important stages are missing, there is a long way to go. It will be important to arrive well to the last week where the mountain will be”.
