TDF 2019: Stage 5, 10/7/2019 - 175,5 km *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 20,519
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges > Colmar 10/07/2019 - Stage 5 - 175,5 km
Stage 5 of the Tour de France is a ride through the middle mountains from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Colmar. The hilly route amounts to 175,5 kilometres. The flag is dropped in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in the glacial and green valley of the river La Meurthe. The route moves through Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.
En route the riders tackle four classified climbs.
Côte de Grendelbruch (3.4 kilometres at 4.9%) is crested in the first half of the race, while Côte du Haut-Koenigsbourg (5.9 kilometres at 5.9%) and Côte des Trois Épis (5 kilometres at 6.7%) are crested with 66 kilometres and 35 kilometres remaining.
Following the Trois Épis a last climb lays waiting to stir things up. The Côte des Cinq Châteux – 4.6 kilometres at 6.1% – peaks with almost 15 kilometres out. A perfect warm-up for stage 6 – to La Planche des Belles Filles.
The route plunges down to the valley for a flat run-in of 11 kilometres to the line.
The 2009 Tour de France visited Colmar in the rain-swept 13th stage. Heinrich Haussler soloed to victory, more than 4 minutes ahead of Amets Txurruka and Brice Feillu. Stage 5 could be an opportunity for a breakaway; the GC contenders might be saving their energy for Stage 6 to la Planche-des-Belles-Filles. Perhaps Stage 5 will be on Thomas de Gendt's target list, and he might win.
Favourites 5th stage 2019 Tour de France
Could be a day for a successful breakaway, now that gaps in the GC have been established, although sprinters with climber’s legs – Sagan, Matthews, Trentin – will be spurred on to let their teams reel in the attackers.
Obviously, a late attack on one of those last two climbs is a viable option also.
Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews, Magnus Cort, Greg Van Avermaet, Alessandro de Marchi, Omar Fraile and of course, Thomas de Gendt all spring to mind, but basically it's a pin in the startlist, type of stage.
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
No previous stage
Population: 21,000
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges has already seen the biggest names in cycling during the 2010 Route de France even if we are talking about the women’s bunch instead of the men. Dutch Marianne Vos prevailed in front of her compatriot Annemiek Van Vleuten and Germany’s Judith Arndt. Eight world championship titles between them!
Saint-Dié is also the hometown of Régis Lhuillier, a two-times junior French champion in 1997 and 1998, who turned pro between 2001 and 2003 at Française des Jeux, with whom he rode the Giro. Former cyclo-cross specialist Nadia Triquet-Claude was also born in Saint-Dié.
Specialties: quiche lorraine, Lorraine pâté, Mirabelle plum (pie and brandy), honey, Vosges candies, Vosges blue wine, Geromé Munster, Chique (cheese), Smoked Vosges (smoked pork), Tofaille (potatoes cooked with bacon and simmered onions),
trout, aniseed bread, brimbelles (varieties of blueberries), brimbelle pie.
Colmar
Seven previous stages
Population: 71,445. 118,000 for the 20 communes of Colmar Agglomeration
On July 17, 2009, Heinrich Haussler enjoyed the greatest day of glory of his career by winning solo in the rain in Colmar at the end of a 200-km breakaway. Runner-up that year of Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders and winner of a Paris-Nice stage, the Australian, who then rode under the German flag, never kept the promises he hinted during this 2009 season, despite clinching podium in classics and an Australian title in 2015. Often hampered by injuries, he continued his career at 34 with Bahrain-Merida and rode his 5th Tour de France in 2018.
But for the elders, Colmar and the Tour de France is all about Roger Hassenforder, twice a stage winner in Colmar in 1955 and 1957. A native of Sausheim, in the suburbs of Mulhouse, he was a local favourite, endowed with an unusual attacking temperament, which earned him eight stages of the Tour between 1953, when he held the Yellow Jersey for four days, and 1959. A talented pursuit rider, his racing style was similar to that of another Alsatian, Thomas Voeckler.
Pedestrian area
The pedestrian area of the old Colmar, one of the largest in Europe, is ideal to admire the innumerable riches of the town’s heritage. The Middle Ages left beautiful examples of Gothic architecture such as the Collegiate Church of St. Martin or the Dominican Church, testimonies of an art both pure and sober. Originally Romanesque in style, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin evolved from 1235 and the works extended over more than a century. The church choir, a work of Wilhelm von Marburg, was completed in the middle of the 14th century. Present in Colmar since the 13th century, Dominicans and Franciscans left remarkable architectural ensembles like the church of the Dominicans (which houses Martin Schongauer’s masterpiece Madonna in the rose garden) or the Franciscan Church of St. Matthew where many events and classical music concerts take place today.
Specialties: Specialties: Alsace wines,
charcuterie, sauerkraut,
bretzels, munster, fleischnakas (pasta stiffed with meat), beckaoffa (potato and meat casserole), tourtes (tarts), laverknepfler (liver quenelles), snails, foie gras, Kougelhofs, bredala (Christmas cakes), berawaeka (bread with raisins and alcohol).
Stage 5 of the Tour de France is a ride through the middle mountains from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Colmar. The hilly route amounts to 175,5 kilometres. The flag is dropped in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in the glacial and green valley of the river La Meurthe. The route moves through Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.
En route the riders tackle four classified climbs.
Côte de Grendelbruch (3.4 kilometres at 4.9%) is crested in the first half of the race, while Côte du Haut-Koenigsbourg (5.9 kilometres at 5.9%) and Côte des Trois Épis (5 kilometres at 6.7%) are crested with 66 kilometres and 35 kilometres remaining.
Following the Trois Épis a last climb lays waiting to stir things up. The Côte des Cinq Châteux – 4.6 kilometres at 6.1% – peaks with almost 15 kilometres out. A perfect warm-up for stage 6 – to La Planche des Belles Filles.
The route plunges down to the valley for a flat run-in of 11 kilometres to the line.
The 2009 Tour de France visited Colmar in the rain-swept 13th stage. Heinrich Haussler soloed to victory, more than 4 minutes ahead of Amets Txurruka and Brice Feillu. Stage 5 could be an opportunity for a breakaway; the GC contenders might be saving their energy for Stage 6 to la Planche-des-Belles-Filles. Perhaps Stage 5 will be on Thomas de Gendt's target list, and he might win.
Favourites 5th stage 2019 Tour de France
Could be a day for a successful breakaway, now that gaps in the GC have been established, although sprinters with climber’s legs – Sagan, Matthews, Trentin – will be spurred on to let their teams reel in the attackers.
Obviously, a late attack on one of those last two climbs is a viable option also.
Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews, Magnus Cort, Greg Van Avermaet, Alessandro de Marchi, Omar Fraile and of course, Thomas de Gendt all spring to mind, but basically it's a pin in the startlist, type of stage.
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
No previous stage
Population: 21,000
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges has already seen the biggest names in cycling during the 2010 Route de France even if we are talking about the women’s bunch instead of the men. Dutch Marianne Vos prevailed in front of her compatriot Annemiek Van Vleuten and Germany’s Judith Arndt. Eight world championship titles between them!
Saint-Dié is also the hometown of Régis Lhuillier, a two-times junior French champion in 1997 and 1998, who turned pro between 2001 and 2003 at Française des Jeux, with whom he rode the Giro. Former cyclo-cross specialist Nadia Triquet-Claude was also born in Saint-Dié.
Specialties: quiche lorraine, Lorraine pâté, Mirabelle plum (pie and brandy), honey, Vosges candies, Vosges blue wine, Geromé Munster, Chique (cheese), Smoked Vosges (smoked pork), Tofaille (potatoes cooked with bacon and simmered onions),
trout, aniseed bread, brimbelles (varieties of blueberries), brimbelle pie.
Colmar
Seven previous stages
Population: 71,445. 118,000 for the 20 communes of Colmar Agglomeration
On July 17, 2009, Heinrich Haussler enjoyed the greatest day of glory of his career by winning solo in the rain in Colmar at the end of a 200-km breakaway. Runner-up that year of Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders and winner of a Paris-Nice stage, the Australian, who then rode under the German flag, never kept the promises he hinted during this 2009 season, despite clinching podium in classics and an Australian title in 2015. Often hampered by injuries, he continued his career at 34 with Bahrain-Merida and rode his 5th Tour de France in 2018.
But for the elders, Colmar and the Tour de France is all about Roger Hassenforder, twice a stage winner in Colmar in 1955 and 1957. A native of Sausheim, in the suburbs of Mulhouse, he was a local favourite, endowed with an unusual attacking temperament, which earned him eight stages of the Tour between 1953, when he held the Yellow Jersey for four days, and 1959. A talented pursuit rider, his racing style was similar to that of another Alsatian, Thomas Voeckler.
Pedestrian area
The pedestrian area of the old Colmar, one of the largest in Europe, is ideal to admire the innumerable riches of the town’s heritage. The Middle Ages left beautiful examples of Gothic architecture such as the Collegiate Church of St. Martin or the Dominican Church, testimonies of an art both pure and sober. Originally Romanesque in style, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin evolved from 1235 and the works extended over more than a century. The church choir, a work of Wilhelm von Marburg, was completed in the middle of the 14th century. Present in Colmar since the 13th century, Dominicans and Franciscans left remarkable architectural ensembles like the church of the Dominicans (which houses Martin Schongauer’s masterpiece Madonna in the rose garden) or the Franciscan Church of St. Matthew where many events and classical music concerts take place today.
Specialties: Specialties: Alsace wines,
charcuterie, sauerkraut,
bretzels, munster, fleischnakas (pasta stiffed with meat), beckaoffa (potato and meat casserole), tourtes (tarts), laverknepfler (liver quenelles), snails, foie gras, Kougelhofs, bredala (Christmas cakes), berawaeka (bread with raisins and alcohol).
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
Heard that he was hanging around towards the back of the bunch today, fun three weeks that he's got ahead
Something that hasn't been picked up on by any of the UK lot.
Edit: You're going to tell me he was working for Caleb Ewan, wasn't he? This is why I don't do punditry.
And I’m not a fanboy of his.
What do they teach at school these days?
If Tim wellens doesn't get in the break will TDG? ... probably. But will he make it? Unknown
Will Sagan and Matthews sprint at the end for points no matter if a break has already won. Definitely.
The Safety shot is Sagan or Matthews etc cos they are going to score points in any scenario. Buts it's a modern era PtP choice with power meters lacking in panache. It's a toughy... Dennis has lost 10 mins ..? Calmejane is looking fiesty. Look at the 5 to 10 mins men is my stratergy. . ... Tricky
Matthews is climbing well .most likely to survive of the green jersey guys on the final climb.
The sprint is at 71km, which could mean that if the break isn't sorted early then Bora start looking at it for Sagan.
Break will probably be quite large, and if it doesn't have riders too close to the yellow then it should take the stage.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
"You can't ride the Tour de France on mineral water."
-Jacques Anquetil
Probably a bit difficult to slip into a break wearing yellow. The spots are his main goal again this year, but I don't think anyone will e all that keen to slip him off the leash entirely at this point. He's got a better chance of claiming some points tomorrow.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
well yes it's going to be harder for him to get away this time - but if it's all together on the final climb and he attacks, will the GC contenders want to go all out reeling him in, with a tough stage tomorrow? They're not going to give him minutes and minutes sure, but... Outside of the GC contenders, is there anyone capable of going with him if he does that?
It's a similar finish to Monday isn't it, just with a bigger climb before the final descent? I don't think you can rule him out on that sort of form.
That's a possibility, though it's a bit longer to the finish from the final climb, I think. I think the break will be large and strong though, Quickstep will have their work cut out in keeping it under control - especially with Asgreen a bit banged up. I can't see anyone else wanting to do much work.
Danes are talking about Valgren as a possibility, but he hasn't lost enough time. Should have sat up and rolled in yesterday.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
Seems like it all depends how hard they make it over the earlier hills, and whether Matthews/Sagan can hold on.
If it helps any Alaphillipe has the shortest odds, although Inrng picks Sagan/Matthews as slightly more likely (same chainrings though). And Matthews is climbing well as mentioned above. Other predictions are similar.
That was peak doping, no?
Some absolute monstrous stages there in terms of distance and speed.
Maybe there *is* a chance that Alaphilippe gets in the break, just because that's the only way to mark them. Not sure anyone would ride with him though.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
Stages in 1994 were the most absurd in mountain density I have ever seen ...there were longer stages ..speed wise.. hmmm not so much ... a lot of piano at times. Thou the uphill speed of 76 kg guys was a bit extraterrestrial.
There were on so much gear I was pedalling faster on the contact high by virtue of being on the same planet.
Fair. But that Arcalis stage was what, 250km, almost 8 hours in the saddle and the 10th day in a row of racing and Ullrich practically sprinted up Arcalis. Most of it in the drops, was mental.
God ...I remember Eurosport being on all day. Coffees and duffield. Pantani did his thing...ullrich was a on the hoods kinda guy . We thought ullrich was going to go on and win 6 tours in a row.
https://youtu.be/FhXF9aeJhqw