TDF 2021: Stage 11, Sorgues > Malaucène 198.9 km **Spoilers**

Stage 11, Sorgues > Malaucène 198.9 km

7-7-2021
Start 11-00am


Five years after a windy visit and some impromptu athletics , the Tour returns to the Giant of Provence. The race taking on the highly anticipated doubled ascent of Mont Ventoux will be all about the climbers and perhaps, the descenders. The riders begin to turn the pedals in Sorgues and follow an anti-clockwise route, initially along the flat. Just after Sault, the race enters the Ventoux circuit, where hopefully at some point, the fireworks will begin.



After 30kms of flat, there are two small, fourth category climbs, the Cote de Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and Côte de Gordes, followed by the first category Col de la Liguière.
These small climbs hold some significance, given the intermediate sprint appears between the two.
While the initial climb is short, it does have a 12% section towards it's top.

It could be that Bike Exhange and Bahrain may try to put the green jersey into difficulty here; not just in terms of the IS, but also, they could look to force the pace until the Col de la Liguière, with the specific aim putting Cavendish OTL.

The first time up Ventoux takes the easiest of three possible routes to the top but it’s also the longest, with 24.3 kilometres of climbing facing the riders. At the summit the riders drop down into Malaucène for the first time via one of the fastest descents. Another 12.5 kilometres on rolling roads later the riders reach Bédoin, which is where the Ventoux begins for real.



Finally, the riders tackle the rapid descent into Malaucène once again. The 22 kilometres to the line all fly downhill.

The Climbs.



Ventoux 1st passage



Ventoux second passage





Final kilometres





The full assent of the Mont Ventoux returns to the Tour de France route for the first time since 2013, when Chris Froome climbed to victory ahead of Nairo Quintana and Mikel Nieve. 3 years later, the stage was cut short at Chalet Reynard, due to strong winds. That time Chris Froome won................the foot race!
With stage honours and bonification seconds at stake, GC riders will doubtless be motivated to go all out.

Favourites stage 11 Tour de France 2021

***** Tadej Pogacar,
**** Richard Carapaz, Michael Woods
*** Wilco Kelderman, Nairo Quintana, Rigoberto Urán, David Gaudu
** Simon Yates, Miguel Ángel López, Guillaume Martin,
* Vincenzo Nibali, Jakob Fuglsang, Wout Poels, Enric Mas, Sergio Higuita

Sorgues

No previous stage
Population: 18,700

Sorgues is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The river Ouvèze, a tributary of the Rhône, as well as its tributary Sorgue, which begins at the Fontaine de Vaucluse, run through the commune. Sorgues, which had a population of 18,680 in 2017, is located just north of Avignon, on the border with Gard.
Most famously Pablo Picasso arrived in Sorgues in June 1912 and it was here that birth of synthetic cubism took place.



Dinning in Sorgues can be quite an experience: where quintessential Provence and creative gastronomy produce a stunning canvas for the senses.







Ventoux and Malaucène

No previous stage
Population: 2,895

Mont Ventoux (1,912 m)
Also called́ the Bald Mountain or the Giant of Provence, it is the highest point of the Baronnies massif and the highest in the Vaucluse. Culminating at 1,912 m, it is about 25 km long on an east-west axis and 15 km wide on a north-south axis. Its geographical isolation makes it visible from great distances.
Since 1966, the summit has been topped by a 42-m-high observation tower with a 20-m antenna. A television transmitter with a power of 195 kw, whose signal is so strong that it can be received from 90 km away.



It was via Malaucène that the Ventoux was climbed for the first time in the Tour de France in 1951 during the Montpellier-Avignon stage, won by Louison Bobet. This climb on the north side, considered less arduous than the one from Bédoin (the south climb), was only used again by the Tour in 1972, when Bernard Thévenet won it. This time all three routes will be ridden, either uphill and downhill.

Ventoux cherries
With nearly 4,000 hectares planted, and an annual harvest of 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes, Vaucluse remains France's leading producer of cherries. The Ventoux region has become the preferred area for table cherries.



Ventoux wines.
The mountainous area 30km to the east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape produce the wines of Ventoux. They are identifiably Rhône in style, but with a distinctive lifted freshness. You can successfully make red, white or rosé.
















"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
«13456715

Comments

  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,439
    The descent to malaucene was the best 24 minutes of my cycling life <3
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    edited July 2021

    Ven...




    Correlation is not causation.
  • JimD666
    JimD666 Posts: 1,899
    Those two posts have me giggling to myself more than is healthy.

    Nice
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    edited July 2021
    It's fantastic, but not quite as amusing as the genius that bleeped out every "count" in his counting song, which nearly finished me off the first time I saw it.

    I bleep slowly, slowly, slowly getting faster
    Once I've started bleep ing it's really hard to stop
    Faster, faster. It is so exciting!
    I could bleep forever, bleep until I drop


  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 16,645
    The Col de la Liguière, was tougher than it looked on paper when I did it in the baking heat. The ventoux twice is a fine idea great parcours ... Woods is not the guy for this stage given the descent finish ..sprint from a small bunch? Pog is not going to risk the descent even if has a lead over the top unless it's a really big one? The Sault ascent is easy enough to
    Allow a big group of 10 min down guys to stay away.
    "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
  • JimD666
    JimD666 Posts: 1,899

    It's fantastic, but not quite as amusing as the genius that bleeped out every "count" in his counting song, which nearly finished me off the first time I saw it.

    I bleep slowly, slowly, slowly getting faster
    Once I've started bleep ing it's really hard to stop
    Faster, faster. It is so exciting!
    I could bleep forever, bleep until I drop


    Thats good as well 😃
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 26,127
    He has a twitter account. Ah ha ha.
  • phil485
    phil485 Posts: 364
    I love this bit of France. Had a great day doing all 3 climbs. Sault is the easiest but at the end of my day it was horrid. Going to look forward to the pictures tomorrow
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    The story going around about Pierre Rolland targeting today's stage is pretty funny. Apparently he claimed during the rest day that he had been quiet throughout the Tour because he was targeting Mont Ventoux.

    "But Pierre, are you confident you can stay away on the 22km of descent at the end?"

    Pierre Rolland is no longer targeting today's stage.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,213
    edited July 2021
    The thought of Pierre Rolland targetting any stage these days is pretty amusing. Outside of the Tour of Rwanda his last win in a .1 level race or higher was 2017 and he hasn't won a Tour stage since 2012 (he did get a 2nd last year to be fair though).
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199
    Weather report delivered by genuine meteorologist on DK TV2 suggests it's going to be a windy edition instead of a hot one today.

    18c at top, wind gusting to 40kmh.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199
    In other news, is anyone playing the official fantasy league? I seem to have fluked my way into a top 10 gc position in the global league :astonished:
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    edited July 2021

    Weather report delivered by genuine meteorologist on DK TV2 suggests it's going to be a windy edition instead of a hot one today.

    18c at top, wind gusting to 40kmh.

    Errr....



    Not the summit I know, but also here:-

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/

    Currently 14kph with 24kph gusts.

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Oh God, it's CK's turn to do the finish, isn't it?
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199

    Weather report delivered by genuine meteorologist on DK TV2 suggests it's going to be a windy edition instead of a hot one today.

    18c at top, wind gusting to 40kmh.

    Errr....



    Not the summit I know, but also here:-

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/

    Currently 14kph with 24kph gusts.

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/
    Isn't that pretty similar to what I posted? I forgot the potential thunderstorm risk though it was mentioned..
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    They should have done all three climbs and signed up all the riders for The Cingles. They would have to stop and get their cards stamped though.

    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/15797271#Comment_15797271
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741

    Weather report delivered by genuine meteorologist on DK TV2 suggests it's going to be a windy edition instead of a hot one today.

    18c at top, wind gusting to 40kmh.

    Errr....



    Not the summit I know, but also here:-

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/

    Currently 14kph with 24kph gusts.

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/
    Isn't that pretty similar to what I posted? I forgot the potential thunderstorm risk though it was mentioned..
    Except for the fact that the meteofrance one suggests the wind dropping in the afternoon to pretty much flat calm.

    Mind you, they were wrong yesterday about the crosswinds.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    French tv are already on Cavwatch.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199
    DQS patrolling the front, the intermediate sprint is fairly early.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 5,834
    edited July 2021
    Is it time to start climbing Zwift's Ven-Top and seeing how feable we are yet?
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199

    Weather report delivered by genuine meteorologist on DK TV2 suggests it's going to be a windy edition instead of a hot one today.

    18c at top, wind gusting to 40kmh.

    Errr....



    Not the summit I know, but also here:-

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/

    Currently 14kph with 24kph gusts.

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/
    Isn't that pretty similar to what I posted? I forgot the potential thunderstorm risk though it was mentioned..
    Except for the fact that the meteofrance one suggests the wind dropping in the afternoon to pretty much flat calm.

    Mind you, they were wrong yesterday about the crosswinds.
    Looking around i can see quite a lot of variation in wind forecasts.

    The TV2 reporter has an anemometer with him. Will keep you updated if we get any info :)
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199

    French tv are already on Cavwatch.

    Mads P agrees with me that today shouldn't be a problem for chubby sprinters. Sunday was the nightmare.

    Cav was right up the front there, suggesting he might go for the pts if available
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Cav policing the break.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    It is quite amusing watching Cavendish bobbing around up there. Hoping to get on the back of a break for free so he can go more slowly later?
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199
    Alaphilippe and Quintana have a small gap.

    Tony Martin is bleeding in a ditch :(
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741

    Weather report delivered by genuine meteorologist on DK TV2 suggests it's going to be a windy edition instead of a hot one today.

    18c at top, wind gusting to 40kmh.

    Errr....



    Not the summit I know, but also here:-

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/

    Currently 14kph with 24kph gusts.

    https://www.meteo-ventoux.fr/
    Isn't that pretty similar to what I posted? I forgot the potential thunderstorm risk though it was mentioned..
    Except for the fact that the meteofrance one suggests the wind dropping in the afternoon to pretty much flat calm.

    Mind you, they were wrong yesterday about the crosswinds.
    Looking around i can see quite a lot of variation in wind forecasts.

    The TV2 reporter has an anemometer with him. Will keep you updated if we get any info :)
    I hope he's going to be on duty for Thursday and Friday. A collective prayer to Njǫrd :)
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    Think Morkov is the only DQS rider not to have ended up in a group off the front so far.

    Tony Martin in a ditch looking smashed up.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    Tony Martin has finally Ko'd himself.
    No way he's getting back on.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.