TDF 2021: Stage 19, Mourenx > Libourne 207 km **Spoilers**
blazing_saddles
Posts: 21,534
in Pro race
Stage 19, Mourenx > Libourne 207 km
16-7-2021Start: 11-20am
With the Pyrenees in the rearview the attention turns back to the sprinters on stage 19 with a 207 kilometre stage from Mourenx to Libourne. It has been awhile since Mourenx last saw a Tour de France peloton. Following finishes in 1969 and 1970, La Grande Boucle set off from the village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in 1999 and 2005.
The riders head in an almost straight line to the north for a likely bunch sprint in Libourne, east of Bordeaux, however it will be a tough day for the sprinters to control.
There is a solitary 4th category climb which appears early in the stage, but by now, it should attract little interest with the KoM jersey undoubtedly already decided. It's been a few years since there were two stages following the mountains, and the parcour while being predominantly flat, does roll for much of the stage, favouring guys with remaining stamina.
Not all teams will still have their fast finisher in their ranks, so there are less candidates to share the work load. The distance, coupled with the fact that peloton will be exhausted from five days in the mountains, will leave a number of teams somewhat unwilling to control a peloton for a long day in the saddle. This could also be the last chance for teams without a sprinter or a GC rider to potentially rescue their race and with a lumpy opening 50 kilometres a bunch sprint is far from a certainty.
Favourites stage 19 Tour de France 2021
***** Mark Cavendish
**** Jasper Philpsen Wout van Aert
*** Jasper Stuyven, Nils Politt, Omar Fraile, Marco Haller, Toms Skujiņš
** Kasper Asgreen, Stefan Küng, Alex Aranburu, Magnus Cort, Philippe Gilbert
* Greg Van Avermaet, Danny van Poppel, Mads Pedersen, Brent Van Moer
(apologies if I have missed anybody obvious but there must be 50 guys who will try for the break.)
Mourenx
Stage town for the 5th time
Population: 6,500
The discovery of the natural gas deposit at Lacq and the development of an industrial complex, lead to the first new town in France to be built in 1958 near a village of 200 people. The town was built at an extremely fast pace and a few years later had almost 12,000 inhabitants. The town of Mourenx remains closely linked to the industrial basin where international companies and start-ups are driving the conversion to renewable energies and the chemistry of tomorrow.
Half a century ago, it was traditional to follow the Pyrenean incursions with a stage for sprinters in Bordeaux and, in 1969 and 1970, it was from Mourenx that this "classic" started with victories for Barry Hoban and Rold Wolfshohl. Thirty years later, in 1999, it was Tom Steels who won a stage from Mourenx to Bordeaux.
Libourne
Stage town for the 4th time
Population: 25,060
The natural confluence of the Isle and Dordogne rivers led to the foundation of this bastide in 1270 by English soldier Roger de Leyburn, who gave it his name. The flourishing trade it has developed over the centuries, mainly in salt, wood and wine, has made it one of the most prosperous bastides in Aquitaine. Surrounded by its ramparts and towers, Libourne imposed its supremacy. For a long time, this prosperous city maintained a privileged link with England. The ships coming from England, which left Libourne loaded with barrels of wine. Today, the cruise ships have replaced the ships of the English fleet.
Libourne is also the birthplace of Mickaël Delage, who has taken part in six Tours de France, mainly in the colours of the Française des Jeux, and of Quentin Pacher, one of the most combative riders of the 2020 edition.
Château de Sales - AOC Pomerol
Perhaps built by the first known owner, Jean de Sauvanelle, mayor of Libourne in the first half of the 17th century, the plan of the château still adopts that of a fortress, entirely enclosed and organised around an inner courtyard. The gardens drawn on the plans of 1770-1772 were replaced by lawns, while the pond was built between 1770 and 1780. Located in the Pomerol appellation, Château de Sales has the largest vineyard in the AOC with 47.6 hectares of vines, out of the 90 hectares of the estate. The limits of the property are the same as in 1578, except for three hectares that were lost during the revolution.
Anybody got a spare 20 grand? This could be yours.
Pork confit from Libourne
Pork confit is one of the great specialities of the Libourne region. It is similar to enchaud or enchaux, which are common in the Landes. Some believe it is even tastier than goose confit.
Taken from the fillet, it is spiked with garlic, rolled on itself and braised slowly in a casserole dish. To eat, cut the confit into thin slices and serve with a salad with walnut oil. It can be eaten cold or reheated in a pan.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
1
Posts
Edit - possibly 1970, Merckx held polka and yellow for ages but not sure if the same rider was looking after the polka dots for him over that time. Certainly not more recently.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
Although they had the KOM competition from well before 1975, I don't think the actual jersey was introduced until that year (when Thevenet beat Merckx and ended the era). So whenever Merckx led/won both the GC and the KOM competitions (1969 and 1970), there was no polka-dot jersey for whoever was second in the KOM to wear/nurse till Paris.
So I think the only occasion was 2015, for the last two stages.
They've also not done a ton of work doing it, as you say, and there's the huge carrot of winning another stage with Cavendish, which seems to amuse the heck out of them. Sticking someone up in the break might happen - why not? - but even if they don't I think they've got enough firepower.
Throwing his weight round 1980s style .
It was more he wanted the bunch to wait for riders to get back after the big crash at the start than chasing a particular individual but a break was up the road so by neutralising the bunch the break went from 20seconds to being clear.