TDF 2022:- Stage 10: Morzine les Portes du Soleil to Megeve 148.1km ***Spoilers***

Stage 10: Morzine les Portes du Soleil to Megeve 148.1km

Start Time 13-30CET.

After the second rest day, the peloton will remain in the Alps for a triptych that will start with a stage that features several climbs with relatively gentle gradients. The final ascent is a mammoth, 21 km at 4%, any attack from the GC guys seems more than crazy, were one of them not named Pogacar.
Twice used in the final stage of the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné when the stages were won by Jumbo's American Sepp Kuss and Bora's Lennard Kamna.



This part of the French Alps is peppered with some of the Tour’s toughest mountain passes, but they’ve all been avoided on this short stage. It weaves a circuitous route from Morzine to Megève, through a grandiose landscape. It first heads north toward Lake Geneva, making a loop on the balcony roads above the lake before winding its way over short climbs and through a series of valleys to the day’s bonus sprint in Passy-Marlioz, at the foot of the 21-kilometer climb to the finish.



The Climbs.



Final Kms.





What to Expect.
Expect a protracted battle to get into the breakaway, because it is likely to be successful, as odds are that the GC riders will keep their powder dry for Stages 11 and 12, but the parcour isn't sufficiently testing to allow for an early formation. First and foremost, timing will be crucial, but the winner will also need good climbing legs. The last few hundred metres are sufficiently steep to make that selection.

Morzine Les Portes du Soleil

Population: 2,870
Specialities: fondue, raclette, polenta, croziflette, stuffing, Abondance (cheese).

MORZINE AND CYCLING

Colombian resort?

The Tour discovered Morzine in 1975 and its stage winners include Marco Pantani and Richard Virenque. But the place also brings back excellent memories for Colombians. In 1982, Luis Herrera had shown the way by winning a stage of the Tour de l'Avenir. Three years later, it was in Avoriaz that Lucho won a stage on the Tour de France, and his compatriot Fabio Parra gave their country an unprecedented double victory the next day by winning in Lans-en-Vercors at the end of a stage that started in Morzine. Inspired by the location, Parra triumphed there three years later in a solo race to become the first Colombian to reach the Tour podium. In 2012, Nairo Quintana also won one of his first prestigious victories in the Critérium du Dauphiné in Morzine. For the sake of completeness, Santiago Botero's stage win in the 2005 Dauphiné should be added to this list. In 2016, it was Spaniard Ion Izagirre who won a stage starting from Megève on the eve of Chris Froome's final victory in Paris.



Croziflette


Raclette.


Along the Route.

Km 115.6

SALLANCHES (Pop: 16,000)
The site of a legendary world championship won by Bernard Hinault in 1980, Sallanches is also the home of Charly Mottet, twice fourth in the Tour de France (ten participations) and three times winner of the Critérium du Dauphiné. Sallanches has hosted the Tour de France three times, always for starts: in 2016 a time trial won in Megève by Chris Froome started there.



Megève

Population: 3,150
Specialities: Savoy cheeses (Reblochon, Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie...), "Glaçons" de Megève (chocolates)

MEGEVE AND CYCLING

Froome shows the way

The Tour made up for lost time in 2016 by finally arriving in one of the world's most famous winter sports resorts. I Chris Froome, then at the top of his game, won the 17-km individual time trial from Sallanches. The British rider won ahead of Dutch specialist Tom Dumoulin and strengthened the Yellow Jersey he eventually took to Paris for the third time.
But Megève welcomed the peloton for other events. Logically, it is the Critérium du Dauphiné that went most often to the resort of Émile Allais, stopping there five times between 1996 and 2020. In 1996, Chris Boardman clinched one of his five victories in the prologue of the event, ahead of Laurent Brochard and Tony Rominger. In 2014, Megève was the starting point for the final stage to Courchevel, won by Spaniard Mikel Nieve ahead of Romain Bardet and Adam Yates. That day, Andrew Talansky beat Alberto Contador to win the final overall classification. In 2020, the Mont Blanc resort hosted two stages of the Dauphiné, with German Lennard Kämna and American Sepp Kuss winning ahead of Dani Martinez, who finally won the GC.



"Glaçons" de Megève










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

  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    edited July 2022
    I question Megeve being the "most famous winter resorts" - Although it is surprisingly and extremely expensive! Genuinely challenging some of the more exclusive Swiss Resorts on the "HOW FUCKIN' MUCH?!?!?" Scale. People with young kids should head to Les Contamines and experienced skiers on a powder day should not overlook that resort either.

    As this first week in the Alps appears to be a "Screw you raver" tour of places I used to be able to live, I would like to draw attention to the road up to Megeve being...not really all that steep or long actually. It is no Alpe d'Huez or La Toussiere for sure. (A good climb for people like me who never quite lost the rugby..bulk, but not so good for people who suffer from motion sickness as it is really twisty.

    PTP Players may like to give consideration to roulers who can hold on on a not too difficult climb...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,024
    ddraver said:


    PTP Players may like to give consideration to roulers who can hold on on a not too difficult climb...

    At the moment, there are only two riders to choose between, so WvA you say?
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,262

    Inspired by the location, Parra triumphed there three years later in a solo race to become the first Colombian to reach the Tour podium.


    I was at the finish for that. The first time I saw the race live.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    Probably not the terrain for an ambush but be interesting if another Uran type rider gets in a break and makes for a hard day for UAE with the mountain stages coming up.

    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,227

    Probably not the terrain for an ambush but be interesting if another Uran type rider gets in a break and makes for a hard day for UAE with the mountain stages coming up.

    Meintjes, Uran, Pinot even. They can't be given unlimited amounts of time yet.

    It's a very short day though, and all they need to do is save Majka for tomorrow.

    Stages 13, 14 and 15 look like more danger.
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    This route is an insult to the Haute Savoie. An area absolutely bursting with some of the best climbs in France and they miss all of them. I’m boycotting the TV / stage.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Bennet out with Covid, Majka positive but not enough to be chucked off the race.

    Pog low on teammates....
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484

    Bennet out with Covid, Majka positive but not enough to be chucked off the race.

    Pog low on teammates....

    He has Ineos. 😉
    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.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    edited July 2022
    Everytime people have began to froth about Pog not having team mates he's taken time on the others I reckon...

    Unfortunately this might be a highlight day for me again 🙁
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,227
    The problem that the other teams have is that he's just better than their contenders.

    If he decided to burn Majka and go for it on the Galibier tomorrow, how many would be able to stay with him till the end of the stage?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Luke Durbridge also out with Covid.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Kauto5
    Kauto5 Posts: 90
    edited July 2022
    Did I hear them right on Eurosport just then - Majka has tested positive for covid but is staying in the race? Such a huge risk for the team and the peloton in general if that happens you'd think

    Edit: just seen a previous post that confirms this, sorry
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    UAE should send Majka to cough all over Vingegaard, Roglic, Thomas and Yates. :p:D
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,340
    Kauto5 said:

    Did I hear them right on Eurosport just then - Majka has tested positive for covid but is staying in the race? Such a huge risk for the team and the peloton in general if that happens you'd think

    Edit: just seen a previous post that confirms this, sorry

    Same was true of Covid Bob at the start of the race. It certainly doesn't sound very wise, but I'm not a medical expert and history has shown that they'd never allow anything potentially dangerous or life-threatening to go on in the peloton under their watch.
  • Kauto5
    Kauto5 Posts: 90

    Kauto5 said:

    Did I hear them right on Eurosport just then - Majka has tested positive for covid but is staying in the race? Such a huge risk for the team and the peloton in general if that happens you'd think

    Edit: just seen a previous post that confirms this, sorry

    Same was true of Covid Bob at the start of the race. It certainly doesn't sound very wise, but I'm not a medical expert and history has shown that they'd never allow anything potentially dangerous or life-threatening to go on in the peloton under their watch.
    I was more thinking of it being risky in terms of riders having to pull out of the race rather than the health risks. You're right about the medical experts being the ones who know best though!
  • Someone needs to invent an alarm clock where Seb Piquet announces the time / date and anything significant in your calendar
  • alan_a
    alan_a Posts: 1,589

    Someone needs to invent an alarm clock where Seb Piquet announces the time / date and anything significant in your calendar

    Love listening to him on radio tour.
  • alan_a
    alan_a Posts: 1,589
    Just above today's finish line.... Aye coz that's what you need to do at the top of a mountain.... Pretend you're at Cheshire Oaks.


  • alan_a
    alan_a Posts: 1,589
    Stunning place, but meh skiing... The blacks are really reds, the reds are really blues...

    Same goes for the roads... Wide and unprovocative.


  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    alan_a said:

    Just above today's finish line.... Aye coz that's what you need to do at the top of a mountain.... Pretend you're at Cheshire Oaks.

    Love that the epitome of a location with an Armani shop is considered to be the chav central of N Cheshire.
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,912
    Froome
    "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
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,912
    This could end in a covid debacle
    "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
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Where we at?
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,912
    edited July 2022
    Peloton at a bit of a loss what to do... Solo b n b off the front
    "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
  • Gougeard out front on his own by 30secs

    Would be further ahead if he could pin his numbers on better
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,912
    Bunch looks keen to make a break just not willing to actually do it
    "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
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,912
    Tired attempts to get off the front
    "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_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,691
    Pidcock getting involved. Interesting
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,227
    Pidcock hanging around at the front has been messing it up for everyone really.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,912
    Ineos getting in to the break attacks ... Pog chasing them down on his own
    "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