TDF 2021: Stage 20, Libourne > Saint-Emilion 30.8 km ITT **Spoilers**
blazing_saddles
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Stage 20, Libourne > Saint-Emilion 30.8 km
17-7-2021Start: 12-05pm
The penultimate stage of the Tour de France is the second time trial of the race. The route is 31 kilometres long and takes place in the rolling vineyards near Bordeaux, between Libourne and Saint-Emilion. The course's small rises and long drags will perfectly suit the time trial specialists.
In 1996, the medieval wine town hosted it's only other visit from Le Tour. It used as finish in a 63.5 kilometer ITT from Bordeaux, which was won by a young upstart by the name of Jan Ullrich.
The route takes it clockwise from Libourne to Pomerol. Just beyond the village of La Patache, the course checks to the east, loops through Pomerol and then follows a comparatively straight trajectory to reach the outskirts of Lussac, at the course’s most easterly point, then swings in a loop to the South West, before a final turn to the South and Saint-Emilion.
The vineyard setting showcases some of the finest Bordeaux wine chateaux, which can command enormous prices. After all the small gear climbing in the Pyrenees, this big gear test could be of concern for the climbers.
Final Kilometres
Top 10 first time trial:
1. Pogacar
2. Küng + 0.19
3. Vingegaard + 0.27
4. Van Aert + 0.30
5. *Van der Poel + 0.31
6. Asgreen + 0.37
7. *Roglic + 0.44
8. Cattaneo + 0.55
9. Porte s.t.
10. Lutsenko + 1.00
* Denotes fallen by the wayside.
Last day, or second last day, time-trials in a Grand Tour are less about someone’s time trialling ability and more about how physically riders have come through the three weeks. So if you’re physically tired you are going to be losing time and if you’re in a good place exiting the Tour de France then time can be made up. But we won’t see the same gaps we saw last year.
Favourites stage 20 Tour de France 2021
***** Tadej Pogacar
**** Wout van Aert, Stefan Küng, Kasper Asgreen
*** Stefan Bissegger, Jonas Vingegaard, Mikkel Bjerg, Dylan van Baarle,
** Mattia Cattaneo, Michał Kwiatkowski, Jonathan Castroviejo
* Brandon McNulty, Geraint Thomas, Richie Porte, Alexey Lutsenko, Wilco Kelderman
The Wine Route.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the wine-growing and cultural landscapes of Saint-Emilion, together with the neighbouring designations of Pomerol and Fronsac, form an exceptional group of Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (AOCs) wines and historic sites established on one of the most legendary Bordeaux wine routes.
Pomerol
Pomerol is a small plateau dotted with small wine farms, on an even smaller scale. The most famous Pomerol of all, Petrus, comprises hardly 12 ha (30 acres) of a very special clay, and there are other properties such as Ch Lafleur and Le Pin whose extremely limited size helps to bolster the prices of their extremely fine, opulent wines. Pomerols are velvety, rich, Merlot-based wines which can smell almost meaty and can give an enormous amount of pleasure.
On the right bank of the river, the Saint-Emilion wine-growing region gathers more than 900 winegrowers. It boasts a unique mosaic of terroirs, plots, and small wineries. The geological diversity of the soils, predominantly clay and limestone, allows for skilful and expressive blends of grape varieties. The omnipresent Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, gives Saint-Emilion red wines their unique finesse and personality. There are four appellations: Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Lussac Saint-Émilion, and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion.
2019 Saint-Emilion, Cuvée Peaky Blinders
The 2019 Saint-Emilion bottled in order of the Shelby Company limited is a blend of Merlot for 72%, Cabernet f*****g Franc for 22% and the rest is Cabernet Sauvignon.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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And who will give the first indicator of a winning time?
With 158 wins under his belt (including 22 Grand Tour stages and the Hamburg Cyclassics), it's been a great career. 25% of the winner's time. Probably Tadej when he wins today's stage.
About 4:15pm UK time for the last three.
Takes the lead
Just read it on Repubblica.it
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
I don't think racers would use a motor, to be honest... drugs are different, there's always been a culture that drugs in sport are more acceptable than other means of cheating.
Basically, the belief among many is that doping helps you cope with the huge pain you have to endure in order to win... a bit like taking paracetamol... of course it's not how it works, but that is still the culture.
A motor is a completely different ball game
I remember hearing one the first time and I didnt know what it was
- @ddraver
At this level if you’re not making the limit you shouldn’t be in the race anyway so they’re doing you a favour.
What's the problem with Cabenet Franc?
Two common and well-liked grape varieties are hybrid descendants of Franc – Merlot and, more importantly, Cab. Sauvignon – without their 'dad', we wouldn't have them!
The vine also has other things going for it - withstands cooler weather okay (so found on the Loire and in Fruili, the cool NE region in Italy), and has less tannin than several grape types (so better suits some people).
I think (a) and (c ) very likely, and (b) quite possible.