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TDF 2020 - Stage 14: Clermont-Ferrand - Lyon 194km *Spoilers*

blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
in Pro race
Stage 14: Clermont-Ferrand - Lyon 194km

As required in the tradition of the “bouchons lyonnais” (typical Lyon restaurants), the menu will be dense and promises a battle between the breakaway specialists, the climbers and the sprinters. First on the Monts du Forez where the riders will have to go up to the Col du Béal, and then mainly on the urban course of close to 15 kilometres in Lyon including three climbs: the Côte de la Duchère, followed by the Montée de l’Observance and finally the Côte de la Croix-Rousse just five kilometres before reaching the finish line. – Christian Prudhomme



The race kicks off in Clermont-Ferrand, a regular on the Tour route and heads towards Lyon along constantly undulating roads.



The Col du Béal being the largest obstacle of the day, although it does get tackled relatively early in the day.



With 11 kilometres to go the riders tackle the Côte de la Duchère: 1.6 kilometres at 4.1% with the first half toughest at 6.8%.



The route continues over the Côte de la Croix-Rousse – 1.8 kilometres at 4.5% – with 5 kilometres remaining. The riders descend towards the Rhône and the last 2 kilometres along the river are flat.





The 14th stage of the Tour de France is a race for Classics riders. With hardly a flat metre underway, the last 15 kilometres are bound to ignite the fireworks big time. Three climbs in short succession lead onto a virtually flat finale.

Favourites 14th stage 2020 Tour de France

*** Mads Pedersen, Julian Alaphilippe, Maximilian Schachmann, March Hirschi
** Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Søren Kragh Andersen, Alberto Bettiol
* Kasper Asgreen, Matej Mohoric, Tiesj Benoot, Alexey Lutsenko, Jasper Stuyven


Clermont-Ferrand

10 previous stages

Population: 290,000

It has been more than 30 years since the Tour de France last stopped in Clermont-Ferrand, precisely since 1988 and a stage won by Thierry Marie.
The city of tyre-maker Michelin, for long a special partner of the Tour, most often served as a launching pad, and in particular for two time trials finishing at the top of Puy de Dôme in 1959 (Federico Bahamontes) and 1983 (Angel Arroyo).
The first winner of a stage in Clermont was a local hero, Raphael Geminiani.



The baton has been handed to local prospect Rémi Cavagna, winner of a stage in the Tour of Spain last year.

Specialities: pâtes de fruit (fruit jelly), Le Lautrec chocolate, aligot, truffade auvergnate, potée auvergnate, tripoux (tripes), potato pâté, bacon with lentils, apple pump (bun). Cheese: Saint Nectaire, Fourme d’Ambert, Bleu d’Auvergne, Cantal. Volvic water. Vineyards: côtes d’Auvergne.





Lyon

17 previous stages

Population: 516,000 habitants (Lyonnais). 1,400,000 in the Lyon Métropôle

The finish of the very first stage of the Tour de France in 1903, won by Maurice Garin, Lyon finally hosted the race only 17 times in 117 editions. The capital of Gaul appeared for the last time on the Tour de France route in 2013 for the 100th edition. Victory that day went to Italian Matteo Trentin.
Lyon has held decisive time trials on several occasions. It was the case in 1950 with the victory of Ferdi Kübler, then again in 1962, when Jacques Anquetil won.



Old Lyon
World famous for its Renaissance architecture, the Old Lyon district owes its fabulous conservation to the safeguarding plan and to the Malraux law protecting the site from 1964. It is typical for its bourgeois architecture, very influenced by Italy and by Paris.



Quenelles de Lyon
For 8 beautiful quenelles you need: three eggs, 175 g of flour, 50 g of butter. And that's all!













"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Posts

  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    edited September 2020
    Breakaway stage, fou sure. No GC contender is going to do anything useful with that profile unless there's significant time bonuses at the top of the second climb.

    Ideas...?
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,688 Lives Here
    Clever route, this one
    _
  • Lanterne_RogueLanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    Whilst Alaphilippe was having his legs tie up on a finish that was too steep for him, this happened:



    Would be surprised if he's not sniffing about on this one again.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • alan_aalan_a Posts: 1,546
    This looks like the last 10km same run in with the last 2 cat 4s and finish as 2013. IIRC that was a an absolute belter of a finish from the breakaway. Loved the hairpins and the flowing fast descent.

    Looking forward to this.
    http://www.3pistescycle.co.uk
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  • ProssPross Posts: 39,278
    Not a great Saturday stage is it?
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    Pross said:

    Not a great Saturday stage is it?


    No, but having seen the crowds last weekend maybe that's for best.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 24,654
    The PTP is well spread out, so far.
    This would appear to indicate an unpredictable race, so hopefully interesting.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    The weather at today's start:



    And at the finish:


    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 19,937
    pblakeney said:

    The PTP is well spread out, so far.
    This would appear to indicate an unpredictable race, so hopefully interesting.

    I picked whilst looking at the wrong profile, so that adds to the unpredictability.
  • davidofdavidof Posts: 3,021
    So the mayor of Lyon has said the Tour de France is "maschist" and "polluting" and he doesn't want it in "his" town.
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  • Lanterne_RogueLanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    TheBigBean said:

    I picked whilst looking at the wrong profile, so that adds to the unpredictability.

    Today's theme is hereby declared as "things you can say about cycling and internet dating"
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Will Bora try again for Sagan or is Sagan cooked .?
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    davidof said:

    So the mayor of Lyon has said the Tour de France is "maschist" and "polluting" and he doesn't want it in "his" town.

    Steering clear of major urban areas would of probably been a good idea
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Talking sunweb
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 8,688
    On paper this looks a chance for Sagan to get back in the green jersey race - Jens voigt thinks not though.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    I think Sagan maybe a bit knackered trying fruitlessly
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • ProssPross Posts: 39,278
    davidof said:

    So the mayor of Lyon has said the Tour de France is "maschist" and "polluting" and he doesn't want it in "his" town.

    I'm sure the Tour will gladly abide by his wishes for future years. It's not like there's a shortage of towns keen to be involved.
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Pross said:

    Not a great Saturday stage is it?

    Good finale ... Maybe quite entertaining
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Overthinking this?
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • Kauto5Kauto5 Posts: 71
    Will van Aert be allowed to get involved at the business end today?
  • alan_aalan_a Posts: 1,546
    This is an hilarious start.

    Speaking of hilarious, last night's ITV Podcast interview of Danny Martinez by Pete K & Matt was the funniest cycling interview I have heard in years. More of this please.
    http://www.3pistescycle.co.uk
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  • alan_aalan_a Posts: 1,546
    Sagan @ Trentin attack on the 4th b4 the sprint
    http://www.3pistescycle.co.uk
    Twitter @3pistescycle
    INSTA @tourclownunder
  • ProssPross Posts: 39,278
    Am I the only one who finds the way Sagan chases intermediate sprint points on these stages a bit boring?
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Pross said:

    Am I the only one who finds the way Sagan chases intermediate sprint points on these stages a bit boring?

    Well it's not spectacular but it breaks the day up ...
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 8,688
    I enjoyed it. I'm more interested in whether Sagan gets involved in the finale than who wins this stage.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • inseineinseine Posts: 5,786
    Poor effort by the remaining Bora guys to deny Bennett of more points
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • Matti66Matti66 Posts: 190
    Nairo with the primoz ‘full gas’ bandages now too.Lol
  • Matti66Matti66 Posts: 190
    Meant to type Primus stove . If any one remembers those .
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    inseine said:

    Poor effort by the remaining Bora guys to deny Bennett of more points

    They are running out of legs and the motivation must be flagging .they need Bennett to crack in the hills and pack
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • ProssPross Posts: 39,278
    It would feel like a bit of a travesty if Sagan took green by being the best rider over the first half of hilly stages before dropping back and finishing with the sprinters. Bennett, WVA and even Hirschi are more deserving assuming they go the full distance.
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