TDF 2023: Stage 18:- Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse, 186km ***Spoilers***

Stage 18:- Moutiers to Bourg en Bresse, 186km

Thursday, July 20
Start Time: 12-05pmBST.

From Moûtiers, the gateway to the Alps, this Tour of France leads east into the flatter part of the Jura. The sprint in Bourg-en-Bresse could be one for the top sprinters. Otherwise, with a balanced group of riders, escapees could get their chance. (Albeit an extremely slim chance)
The race will be exciting – until the group has formed. That could take 5 minutes, or an hour. After that I expect a bit of a snooze.
With the all the jerseys pretty much decided, I am not sure what the ASO were thinking, dishing up back to back, almost certainly nailed on sprint stages.



Two minor obstacles are situated in the middle section of the race. The Côte de Chambéry-le-Haut is 1.6 kilometres long and averaging 4.1% and the Côte de Boisseu is 2.4 kilometres at 4.7%. There are still almost 80 kilometres to go after the latter.
Bourg-en-Bresse saw two Tour de France stage finishes in its history. On both occassions it was a fast finisher who took the spoils – Thor Hushovd in 2002 and Tom Boonen in 2007.



Final Kms.



What to Expect.

The breakaway to take some time to form, but ultimately it will be controlled by the teams with a vested interest in seeing it come down to a bunch sprint. Those who have come through the mountains with the best condition should contest the outcome.

Moutiers

Stage town for the 3rd time
Population: 3,500

Moûtiers, historically also called Tarentaise, is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 3,511. Moûtiers is the main access point to the Les Trois Vallées ski region in the French Alps.

MOUTIERS AND CYCLING

Moûtiers was officially the starting town for stages of the Tour de France in 1973 and 1994. The first visit of the peloton took it to Les Orres, where Luis Ocana consolidated his Yellow Jersey. In 1994, Latvian rider Piotr Ugrumov won the stage with a 2:40 lead over Miguel Indurain and Richard Virenque. In 2019, the penultimate stage of the edition won by Egan Bernal started well from Albertville, but avoided the Cormet de Roselend, blocked by a mudslide, to attack the final climb to Val Thorens directly from Moûtiers. Vincenzo Nibali clinched this shortened stage for the last of his six stage wins in the Grande Boucle.

Gastronomy.

Savoy cake
It was in Chambéry that the Savoy cake was first prepared during a banquet offered by Count Amadeus VI of Savoy to Emperor Charles IV, who was visiting the county. The Savoy cake is a very light cake obtained by the delicate incorporation of whipped cream, which gives it a soft texture, accompanied by a zest of citrus fruit to enhance the taste.



Bourg en Bresse

Stage town for the 6th time
Population: 41,700, 133,000 in the agglomeration

Bourg-en-Bresse is the prefecture of the Ain department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Eastern France. Located 70 km northeast of Lyon, it is the capital of the ancient province of Bresse.
Bourg-en-Bresse is located at the western base of the Jura Mountains, on the left bank of the Reyssouze, a tributary of the Saône. Roman remains have been discovered at Bourg, but little is known of its early history.

BOURG-EN-BRESSE AND CYCLING

Thor Hushovd in 2002, Tom Boonen in 2007: Bourg-en-Bresse has often been successful for sprinters in the Tour de France. In 2014, Alexander Kristoff confirmed the trend with the start of a stage to Saint-Étienne. In 2020, it was Soren Kragh Andersen who won the last stage of the Tour de France starting from Bourg in Champagnole, where Primoz Roglic was still the leader before being dethroned by Tadej Pogacar. In 2016, for the last passage of the Tour in the prefecture of Ain, Colombian Jarlinson Pantano broke the tradition by winning solo in Culoz in a stage that started in Bourg.



Gastronomy.

TO EAT

The history of Bresse poultry begins in Roman times, 400 years before Christ. The invaders had the good idea of moving with their flocks. The local breeds - the Noire de Louhans, the Grise de Bourg-en-Bresse, the Blanche de Bény - assimilated the best contributions. It was not until 1591 that Bresse poultry was first mentioned. In the register of Bourg-en-Bresse, the population offered two dozen fat poultry to the Marquis of Treffort, who had driven away the Savoy troops. On August 1, 1957, the French Parliament voted to grant the appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for Bresse poultry and in 1976 for Bresse turkey.



Giraudet quenelles

Giraudet has been a leading Bresse company since 1910, specialising in the traditional production of quenelles, ravioles, sauces and fresh soups. The quenelles can be eaten as a main course or as a side dish, with rice, fresh pasta or steamed vegetables.
They can be cooked in the oven (15 min at 220°C), in a pan (10 min) or steamed (3 min), depending on your preferences. One thing is certain, they are to be topped with sauce.
For even more deliciousness, add grated cheese and let it bake in the oven.









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

  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,438
    WvA is a DNS - gone home to be at the birth of his second child
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    It was clearly playing on his mind
    "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: 18,908
    I hope a break wins
    "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
  • stage_hunter
    stage_hunter Posts: 317

    I hope a break wins

    I guess they must have a chance. Who is chasing? Alpecin of course. Jayco? May have podium plans. Intermarche? Tomorrow better. Astana for Bol? Not enough riders. Unl X and Lidl maybe.
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    Following our tried and tested route from the N90 through Tunnel du Chat to avoid autoroute chaos and get nice views of the lake. It's a nice drive.
    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)
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,438
    Stages 19 and 20 are probably better for the break so the breakaway artists might have a rest today and save their pennies for those two
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    edited July 2023
    Delete. Already covered
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    I guess the race being killed off means Wout is no longer required. Thought he might get an opportunity to go for a stage win but getting back home is obviously the higher priority.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    edited July 2023
    Deleted
    "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: 18,908
    edited July 2023
    r0bh said:

    Stages 19 and 20 are probably better for the break so the breakaway artists might have a rest today and save their pennies for those two

    If I was a team in need of a breakaway win I would stick riders in a break today just to.increase the chances of success on stage 19 . The no hoper teams need to get more strategic.

    "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: 18,908
    Weird double post behaviour
    "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
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    Just to rub in how feeble today's stage 18 is....

    Last year:


    2021:


    2020:


    2019:


    2018 was the last rubbish year into Pau, but without a Pyrenee.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655

    Just to rub in how feeble today's stage 18 is....

    Last year:


    2021:


    2020:


    2019:


    2018 was the last rubbish year into Pau, but without a Pyrenee.

    Yeah, but what did stage 17 look like all those years? Doubt many of them looked like yesterdays!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    Head's up to Lanterne-watchers, Mørkøv may be forced to sprint at the wrong end of the race today
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726

    Just to rub in how feeble today's stage 18 is....

    Last year:


    2021:


    2020:


    2019:


    2018 was the last rubbish year into Pau, but without a Pyrenee.

    Yeah, but what did stage 17 look like all those years? Doubt many of them looked like yesterdays!
    You are right. This was last year's rubbish. :p



    2021....


    And looking rather similar, we have 2020.



    ;)

    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,438
    And remind us what week 1 was like in those years ;)
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    Painfully long roll out.
    Still 7kms to and they started more than 20 minutes ago.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    Well that was pathetic.
    First 3 riders to try are away.
    At least they are big engines.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    Think I might take a nap
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,334

    Head's up to Lanterne-watchers, Mørkøv may be forced to sprint at the wrong end of the race today

    Yeah, but we might also see an Astana Bol's up, in which case Fedorov will be on duty. Might all cancel each other out.
  • flite
    flite Posts: 226
    I cherish an idea that Morkov will arrive in Paris and his team will by mistake lead him out to victory on the Champs
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    After the Lord Mayor’s show…
    Can’t imagine this stage is doing much for advertising revenue.

    Got it on in the background but doing other things. The Kirby gang are actually best suited for this dross.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Only just turned on and the break had less than a minute, I thought it may have only just got away but the gap has since come down. It feels very unusual for a break to be kept on such a short leash at this stage of the Tour.

    Who is on comms with Hatch and Lloyd?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    Daryl Impey.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Thought it must be.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    edited July 2023
    Friebe interview with Mr oxidated fluorocarbons was interesting
    "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: 18,908
    He blames the wrist break at liege
    "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
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Stage might be boring but it's picturesque.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    It is
    "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