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TDF 2021: Stage 8, Oyonnax > Le Grand-Bornand 150.8 km **Spoilers**

blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
edited July 2021 in Pro race

Stage 8, Oyonnax > Le Grand-Bornand 150.8 km

2-7-2021
Start 12-10pm

The race continues to head eastwards and into the Jura and Alpine mountain ranges for the first time this year. Oyonnax is situated in the foothills of the Jura mountains. Seven years ago the Tour de France was here for the first and last time when Tony Gallopin soloed to victory. The finish of the stage is the downhill into Le Grand-Bornand, which was last used in 2018. This time however, an extra climb has been added to the finale.



There may not be a summit finish in store for the peloton but with five categorised climbs, plus an uncategorised uphill start. The ascents are relatively easy until kilometre 100, but the last 50 kilometres will offer a new, triple climb, amounting to a distance of over 20 kms at close to 9%.
In 2018, Julian Alaphilippe launched one of his trademark attacks and crested both peaks to win ahead of Ion Izagirre.



The Climbs:



The riders tackle the Côte de Mont-Saxonnex shortly after Bonneville. The 5.7 kilometres ascent averages 8.3%.




Almost immediately after the descent the big test of the day appears.




Between the summit of the Col de Romme and the base Col de la Colombière is a downhill section of 5.5 kilometres.




Final kilometres



Stage 8 of the Tour de France suits attackers with climbing skills and a fast descent, but it also seems likely that the GC contenders will at least skirmish on these slopes. Some might also seek to exploit the fast descent into Le Grand-Bornand. This stage we may also get an idea about who, from the fallen GC contenders, has shifted focus towards the polka dot prize.

Favourites stage 8 Tour de France 2021

***** Tadej Pogacar
**** Dan Martin, Pello Bilbao, Michael Woods, Nairo Quintana, Ion Izagirre
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Warren Barguil, Jakob Fuglsang, Richard Carapaz
** Alexey Lutsenko, Jonas Vingegaard, Bauke Mollema, Simon Yates
* Wilco Kelderman, David Gaudu, Geraint Thomas, Ben O’Connor


Oyonnax

Stage town for the second time
Population: 22,517

Oyonnax lies in a valley of the Jura Mountains in the far north of Ain. It is near the Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura. The city is on the river Ange.
Oyonnax was a centre of the maquis, during the second world war and was awarded a medal for the Resistance, just like Brest, the starting town of this Tour.
The town is famous for the ancient production of wooden combs. (7th century)



On the Road

Km 86

La Roche-sur-Foron (Pop: 11,200)
In 2020, La Roche-sur-Foron hosted the Tour de France for a stage won by Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) at the end of a great breakaway with his Ecuadorian teammate Richard Carapaz.



Le Grand-Bornand

Seven times stage town
Population: 2,202

On 17 July 2018, Julian Alaphilippe won the first of his five stage victories in the Grande Boucle in Le Grand Bornand. The Savoy resort was also on the course of the 100th edition. Rui Costa won the third stage of his career that year. He took over from Fränk Schleck, who had won in 2009 in front of Alberto Contador under the benevolent eye of his brother Andy. In 2007, the victory went to the young German Linus Gerdemann, who took the Yellow Jersey for a day.



Specialities: farmhouse reblochon, white tomme, mountain charcuterie, cheese-based specialities (fondue, tartiflette, péla), matafan (potato fritters), farcement (sweet and sour potatoes), rissoles (pan-fried apple turnover)









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

  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 11,406


    That was a smashing stage.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    above_the_cows said:



    That was a smashing stage.

    Did I doze off during the football and sleep through Saturday by accident? Damn. I was booked for a Belgian lunch again.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • ridgeriderridgerider Posts: 2,851
    I reported live on here from Romme on that 2018 stage.

    I do like the Cluses/Morzine area.
    Half man, Half bike
  • phreakphreak Posts: 2,890
    I wonder how yesterday's racing will affect today? Everyone sounds like they went very deep yesterday so I wonder whether today will be neutered somewhat as a result?
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 24,599
    Not everybody went hard yesterday.
    Could be more movements in placings today.
    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.
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    phreak said:

    I wonder how yesterday's racing will affect today? Everyone sounds like they went very deep yesterday so I wonder whether today will be neutered somewhat as a result?

    Alaphilippe looked fairly relaxed. I think the big question is who has eyes on the yellow when MvdP leaves on the rest day, and can they do anything about it on this terrain? The first big polkadots points are also up for grabs today.

    Van Aert is the apparent heir to MvdP's jersey, but I'm not sure how willing Jumbo-Visma would be to chase and control for it, given their team is pretty battered. So if a threat gets in the break he might want to get in with them. Asgreen wouldn't let that slide, so he might do the same. Alaphilippe is further back and might fancy a shot at it, or the mtn points or stage win. And a whole heap of climbers are probably targeting the stage.

    GC teams will probably want a helper up the road (Tao for Ineos maybe?) and everyone knows that if they're knackered, UAE are doubly so.

    Essentially, I think teams would rather be in it than have to control it. The only teams who've shown real aptitude for controlling the break are Ineos, Jumbo-Visma and DQS, and all of them have reasons not to work too hard at it.

    My prediction, which will almost certainly turn out to be utter bølløcks, is for a big fight, leading to a big break featuring Alaphilippe, temp yellow hopefuls, GC helpers, random stage hunting climbers and polkadot aspirants.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Some GC danger rider likley to escape on the first ramp of the day forcing UAE to chase again? ineos made it clear they aren't going to do the controlling .
    "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
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Oh yeah, uphill start as well! I expect most of the peloton will be on the rollers before the start.
    I wouldn't expect any gc rider to go long, there's a tough day tomorrow, though if UAE are looking ragged and there's a chance to cross to a big break then it's possible.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • specialgueststarspecialgueststar Posts: 3,418
    edited July 2021
    Let's play pairs

    Uran. Higuita

    Barguil Quintana



  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    edited July 2021
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Oh yeah, uphill start as well! I expect most of the peloton will be on the rollers before the start.
    I wouldn't expect any gc rider to go long, there's a tough day tomorrow, though if UAE are looking ragged and there's a chance to cross to a big break then it's possible.

    From inrng's stage preview, today:

    A start in Oyonnax, they could have trundled down the valley but instead it’s uphill into the Jura, with 6km at 7% which makes this the biggest climb so far in Tour only it’s an unmarked climb.

    I think a few climbers will fancy their breakaway chances on that.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    specialgueststar said:

    Let's play pairs

    Uran. Higuita

    Barguil Quintana



    Woods, Dan Martin
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 11,177
    ridgerider said:

    I reported live on here from Romme on that 2018 stage.

    I do like the Cluses/Morzine area.

    I rode Colombiere from Cluses (so missing out Romme) then did Aravis from Grand Bornand in 2015. It was very hot. Colombiere was longer than I was expecting and I had a bad time.

    We were staying in Samoens, great area.
  • jimmyjamsjimmyjams Posts: 703
    blazing_saddles said:



    Oyonnax

    The town is famous for the ancient production of wooden combs. (7th century)

    The wooden combs were usually made of boxwood – there is a 'comb and plastics' museum at Oyonnax, where one learns this.
    The museum is an odd combination - one part about the local comb-making history, the other part (because the town is nowadays a centre for the plastic industry) with exhibits of all sorts of items made, like modern combs, from molded plastic, e.g. those vividly-coloured chairs, originally from Denmark, which were trendy in the 1970s.


  • jimmyjamsjimmyjams Posts: 703
    blazing_saddles said:



    Oyonnax

    Stage town for the second time
    Population: 22,517

    As there is no culinary item for the Oyonnax area suggested, I'll propose the flavoursome and aromaful dish, Coq au Vin Jaune (Chicken in Yellow Wine), which despite sounding like it might just be a variation of Burgundian Coq au Vin, is actually markedly different because of the inclusion of cream and morelle mushrooms, as well as Jura yellow wine.

    Traditionally, the chicken is served with rice and a glass of Vin Jaune from Le Vernois or Château-Chalon (where this wine supposedly originated) - vineyards about 40 kms N of Oyonnax. Vin Jaune resembles sherry in taste, but unlike sherry isn't fortified, so has a lower alcohol content.


  • webboowebboo Posts: 6,047
    One of my mates had a place above Morillon. I spent many a summer and winter holiday out there. As you say great area.
    Watched it go up the Joux plan a couple of times.
  • ProssPross Posts: 39,238
    Would like to see Porte try to get away early on this one. Nearly 4 minutes down on Pog so no immediate threat but enough to cause a bit of stress. Thomas would be even better but I doubt he'd be allowed to go.
  • gsk82gsk82 Posts: 3,397
    Pross said:

    Would like to see Porte try to get away early on this one. Nearly 4 minutes down on Pog so no immediate threat but enough to cause a bit of stress. Thomas would be even better but I doubt he'd be allowed to go.

    Thomas's days as a TdF GC rider finish today.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    edited July 2021
    Pross said:

    Would like to see Porte try to get away early on this one. Nearly 4 minutes down on Pog so no immediate threat but enough to cause a bit of stress. Thomas would be even better but I doubt he'd be allowed to go.

    I can't see UAE able to.chase anyone who goes ... Or at least they will have to pick one rider to chase and let the rest go. I think g may be still be in recovery mode. Carapaz and Porte could well go .
    "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
  • bigmatbigmat Posts: 5,134
    bobmcstuff said:

    ridgerider said:

    I reported live on here from Romme on that 2018 stage.

    I do like the Cluses/Morzine area.

    I rode Colombiere from Cluses (so missing out Romme) then did Aravis from Grand Bornand in 2015. It was very hot. Colombiere was longer than I was expecting and I had a bad time.

    We were staying in Samoens, great area.
    I rode Colombiere then Aravis, then realised I was going to miss my flight if I didn't get a move on so turned round and did the other side of Colombiere back to the car. Very hot day and I ran out of water somewhere near the top of Aravis. Had to go full gas up Colombiere without a break, almost killed me. Anyway, if it's hot it will be hard work out there today. I'm expecting, sadly, that today will be the day G finally has to give up on GC for this year (and possibly for good).
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • bigmatbigmat Posts: 5,134
    gsk82 said:



    Thomas's days as a TdF GC rider finish today.

    Beat me to it! Go on G, prove us wrong...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    I want MvdP and WvA to attack .... Somewhat unlikely
    "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
    It's only 150 k easy
    "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: 8,685
    mididoctors said:

    Pross said:

    Would like to see Porte try to get away early on this one. Nearly 4 minutes down on Pog so no immediate threat but enough to cause a bit of stress. Thomas would be even better but I doubt he'd be allowed to go.

    I can't see UAE able to.chase anyone who goes ... Or at least they will have to pick one rider to chase and let the rest go. I think g may be still be in recovery mode. Carapaz and Porte could well go .


    Yes this could be interesting - the uphill start is ideal if UAE are struggling.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    edited July 2021
    Mucky, murky old weather today and it's not good tomorrow, either.

    Oh and what a surprise. ITV 4 have full coverage today, so of course Eurosport start with Rob Hatch.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Some one faking a pre start mechanical as usual
    "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: 8,685
    Anyone else think Brian Smith has upped his punditry game recently.

    Just seems a bit more relaxed but also a bit stronger in some of his comments about what goes on in the racing - always thought he was ok but he seems to be adding more these days.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 16,460
    Woods thinking long
    "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
  • tailwindhometailwindhome Posts: 18,732
    TdG looking keen today

    Stretched it out at the flag drop.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • lettingthedaysgobylettingthedaysgoby Posts: 1,732
    Being spat out the back within the first few hundred metres must be a somewhat depressing experience :D
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    Riders out the back very early....
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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