TDF 2024:- Stage 20: Nice – Col de la Couillole, 132.8km ***Spoilers***

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
edited July 19 in Pro race

Stage 20: Nice – Col de la Couillole, 132.8km

July 20th.

Start Time: 12-25BST.

The penultimate stage of Le Tour has Paris-Nice written all over it. Not only does the race start in Nice, but also three of the four mountains served as finishes in recent editions of the Race to the Sun. Stage 20 of the Tour de France is merely 132.8 kilometres long. Four big mountains have been crammed into, adding up to 4,500m of climbing in total. This stage is the 2024 Étape du Tour.

So the Tour goes ‘Paris-Nice’ and it does so in style. The race kicks into gear at the Place Masséna in Nice. The riders rolll out in northerly direction and enter the first climbs after 15 kilometres.

Profile.

stage-20-tdf-2024-profile[1].jpg

Map.

stage-20-tdf-2024-map[1].jpg

The Climbs.

Col de Braus (Cat. 2)

BrausE[1].gif


Col de Turini (Cat. 1)

stage-20-turini[1].jpg


Col de la Colmiane (Cat. 1)

SaintMartinE[1].gif


Col de la Couillole (Cat. 1)

stage-20-couillole[1].jpg

Climbing 4,600m

Final Kilometres.

stage-20-route-finale[1].jpg

What to Expect.

It could be all over by now, but if not, a battle between the big two.

Perhaps the more interesting race will be the one for the bottom rung of the podium.

Nice

Stage town for the 37th time

Prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes (06)

Population: 345,000

NICE AND CYCLING

Nice is becoming a key city in the Tour de France. Before enjoying the privilege of becoming the first town to host the final finish of the Tour away from its Parisian base, the prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes had the honour of organising the Grand Départ of an edition that was already unlike any other, that of September 2020, when covid-19 made the logistics particularly tricky. The opening stages, won by Alexander Kristoff in the sprint and then by Julian Alaphilippe in yellow.

In 2013, for the 100th edition of the Tour de France, Nice was back on the course, thirty-two years after hosting the 1981 Grand Départ. It's first appearance as a stage town in the Tour de France was in 1906.

Specialities: pissaladière, fougasse, socca, brissaouda, tapenade, salade niçoise, pan bagnat, porchetta, trulle, ratatouille, daube niçoise, bellet (wine)

Socca

Originally derived from the Genovese farinata, socca eventually became the specialty of Nice, France, where it is a street food staple. This traditional flatbread is made with chickpea flour, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Once the batter is prepared, it is transferred to a wide pan or a skillet, which is placed in the oven at very high temperature. The batter is then baked until the socca hardens and begins to slightly burn on the edges. Once baked, socca is sliced into pieces and seasoned with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. It can be served as an appetizer with cheese, olives, and a glass of rosé on the side.

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Col de la Couillole

Stage resort for the first time

Alpes-Maritimes pass (06)

Population: 120

COL DE LA COUILLOLE AND CYCLING

Although Col de la Couillole has already featured twice in the Tour de France, during the Embrun-Nice stage in 1973 and the Nice-Pra-Loup stage in 1975 (Lucien Van Impe took the lead while Eddy Merckx lost ground), this is the first time that a finish has taken place here.

Daube.

Daube is a hearty Provençal stew consisting of meat (mostly beef, but other meats like lamb can be used) that is simmered low and slow in wine with various vegetables and seasonings such as cinnamon, cloves, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Traditionally, the stew is prepared in a special earthenware vessel called a daubiére, which is specially shaped to stop the evaporation of the flavorful cooking liquids.

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

  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,572

    The Braus is picturesque with evenly spaced sections between the hairpins. It's then a long slog up the valley from Sospel to the top of the Turini. The final climb is a really steady gradient, and in the shade for most of the way. There's a giant cyclist sculpture at the top.

    It's a big climbing day for sure.

  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,334

    Brutal day for the bus.

    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655

    Specialities: pissaladière, fougasse, socca, brissaouda, tapenade, salade niçoise, pan bagnat, porchetta, trulle, ratatouille, daube niçoise, bellet (wine)

    Piss Aladière?

    I remember him, we had high hopes for him but he never delivered. Only ever really played in the league cup. We usually called him Jérémie though, or FFS Aliadière.

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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655

    So, are we expecting a Gangsters Paradise on the last climb, the Col de

    image.png


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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655

    Special edition Jersey for Astana today

    https://x.com/itvcycling/status/1814617896024523229


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  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,436

    @blazing_saddles

    Your thread openers are the to go for a summary of the day ahead.

    Thanks and chapeau

    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726

    One thing for sure, it won’t be an early finish today.

    Only just starting the 12km roll out, so somewhere along the line, there has been a change of schedule.

    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,057

    Cav's trainer reckons it could be really tight to make time limit, less than a minute.

    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463

    Jonas saying he was at his highest level in the first two weeks but that he’s dropped off I. The final week.

  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655

    Jorgenson is being given a free role today, but there are lots of small time-gaps in the top 10-15, so expect lots of weird looking riding decisions where you have to check back with who's in 13th on GC to understand


    2% added to the time cut today btw

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  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,057

    A stage with 4500m of climbing really doesn't need ~12Km of lead out in warm weather!

    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    Late start managed to catch 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: 18,908
    edited July 20
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21085411#Comment_21085411

    The hot urban roll out cooked the peloton before the race started in Florence stage 1 . Hope the teams learnt to not underestimate that reflected heat off the buildings

    "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

    Local roads for this lot

    "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
  • carbonclem
    carbonclem Posts: 1,784

    I’ve ridden out from Nice. Now at the top of Turini. Bit cooler up here but it’s been proper scorchio.

    2020/2021/2022 Metric Century Challenge Winner
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21085417#Comment_21085417

    I'm jealous

    "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

    Send pics...not on Instagram either

    "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

    Hope some top 10 bunfight does not drag pog to the stage victory

    "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
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21085411#Comment_21085411

    Just getting them to a suitable start point aren’t they? It’s not taking anything out of the riders and it’s a very short stage. The bus fodder are probably glad of it if anything.

  • stevepage20
    stevepage20 Posts: 5
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21085421#Comment_21085421

    He will stage again today and be 1st over all the climbs to take king of mountains. UAE just ride tempo to not let any break go over the 1st climb then by time get up 1st cat1 there be only the GC contenders and domestics left.

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21085425#Comment_21085425

    Reincarnated FF

    "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

    Adam Yates in the breakaway. Marking Jorgensen as an excuse to go for the stage win?

    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249

    Rats! Wrong UAE on PTP. It was a toss up between Yates and Almeida.

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    Oh FFS

    "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: 14,655
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21085427#Comment_21085427

    He's been let off the leash for a stage win today


    But all these lower GC placings (e.g. Landa V Almeida) have ended up doing massive damage

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  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    Lol

    "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: 14,655

    Luke Rowe is supposedly out on this climb with some iced water, according to the podcast

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  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    Jorgensen is the problem

    "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 goes the top ten 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
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726

    Just like the Giro, other teams are going to ride Pogacar into a position where he can go for the stage without making it obvious.

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

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