Le Tour Stage 10 - Finally We're In the Mountains

Now I can start to get excited because the mountains begin today! The boys of Le Tour begin their climbs in the Alps with today's stage. I can hardly wait! Of course I enjoyed the cobblestones, and the French coastline and upper portion of the nation was quite beautiful, but mountains make me sing. I suppose it's a reminder of the Colorado Rocky Mountains of my youth, but it also makes for some damned exciting bicycle racing. 

Add caption

Today's stage stars lots of wonderful mountains which will be the star of the race for most of the remainder of the Tour de France. After a plane ride south, were're firmly in the Alps im the eastern part of France. Today the Tour will start to break up - the sprinters having difficulty staying anywhere close to the climbing specialists. (Day 12 will be the hardest for the sprinters, but the next three days are super challenging for all of the riders.) The current standings won't look the same after the next three days. It's time for the big guns, the vast scenery, and the crowds of spectators. 

Today's stage profile makes me very happy. I have two detail
maps of specific peaks below as well. We have three Cat 1
peaks and one HC. Notice that small green marker to the far left?
That's the last flat for the sprinters to get points on today's route. 

Although we've lost some serious contenders through the flats and cobblestones, most notably Richie Porte from Team BMC, there have only been nine riders who have dropped out of the race thus far. The mountain stages will increase that number exponentially, although the boys will push everything they have into staying under the time limits. Some of the riders will be caught on time, others will have their already abused bodies just give out on them. This race is not for the weak. 

On Montee du plateau des Gliored, it's an
extremely steep gradient for this HC peak. 

In terms of actual distance, today's race is 158.5 km long, starting with a Cat 4 climb and ending with a massive downhill race down Col de la Colombiere into a flat plateau for an all-out race to the finish. The question is will the teams gather behind their front men? Team Sky usually is all about Chris Froome, but Geraint Thomas is equally capable of pulling the win and so far his team director has allowed him to race instead of just support Froome. Are we seeing cracks in the teams? 

The final two peaks today will really push the riders. See all
of those black sections? Those are the really steep portions and
by the time they reach the top of Col de la Colombiere, they'll be
more than ready to fly down the peak and into the final
stretch. 

The final two peaks, the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombiere (both Cat 1) are where most of the shifting for positions will take place. The riders' legs will be tested today. These are the Alps - broad roadways, sweeping turns, and sometimes the riders misjudge their speeds or the gradient and go off the side. I've seen it happen, and it usually isn't a good thing. I'm hoping everyone gets through this first day of the Alps safely, but I know that the field will be fractured by tonight. 

Have a great Tuesday. I'm looking forward to several days in a row of exceptional racing in the massive peaks of the Alps. Huzzah!