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2016 Tour de France: Stage 15 live race updates, blog

17th July, 2016
Stage type: Mountain
Start: Bourg-en-Bresse
Finish: Culoz
Distance: 160km
TV: Live, SBS (8:30pm AEST)

Top 10 General Classification
1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 58:02:51
2. Bauke Mollema (Trek) + 1:47
3. Adam Yates (Orica) + 2:45
4. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 2:59
5. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) + 3:17
6. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) + 3:19
7. Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) + 4:04
8. Richie Porte (BMC) + 4:27
9. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 5:03
10. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 5:16
Nairo Quintana will be among the riders needing to start making up time on Chris Froome in Stage 15 of the Tour de France. (Image Joseld-89, Wikimedia Commons)
Roar Guru
17th July, 2016
175
1066 Reads

The second week at the Tour de France wraps up with Stage 15 which sees the peloton climb over 5000 metres in altitude across six categorised climbs on the 160-kilometre trek from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz. Join The Roar for live coverage from 8:30pm (AEST).

Today’s stage will mark the first day of racing in the Alps and should be a day for the general classification men to shine.

Lumpy roads for the first 15 kilometres could allow a breakaway, however the big names in the King of the Mountains classification will likely wait to make their move until the first categorised climb of the day – the Category 1 climb of the Col du Berthiand.

Six kilometres at 8.1 per cent, it will be a difficult start to the stage, especially after the undulations before the climb even starts.’

It is then a short descent that leads into an unclassified climb of three kilometres, before the road makes its way back down into the valley before heading uphill once again for the Category 2 Col du Sappel. The climb averages out at 5.6 per cent for 8.8 kilometres.

A short descent follows, which leads into the third climb of the day, the Category 3 Col de Pisseloup which is completed inside 100 kilometres to go and reads 4.9 kilometres at 5.8 per cent.

The climbs continue to come thick and fast, with another short descent before tackling Category 3 Col de la Rochette, another 5 kilometres and an average gradient of over 5 per cent, much like the previous two climbs.

From the top of the Col de la Rochette to the start of the next classified climb, the hors category climb of the Grand Colombier a distance of 21 kilometres will be covered, with a short unclassified climb in the middle separating the two climbs.

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The Grand Colombier is the most difficult climb of the day – just under 7 per cent for 12.8 kilometres, which should start to see the first moves from general classification favourites. The climb goes up in two distinct sections – the first half of the climb is fairly easy, with gradients around 6 per cent, however it then goes consistently at or over 8 per cent.

The climb is crested after 113 kilometres, leaving another 47 before the riders finish in Culoz.

Cluoz will see the peloton pass through twice today, with the town also acting as the starting point for the final climb of the day – the Category 1 Lacets du Grand Colombier. The climb averages 7.5 per cent for 8.4 kilometres and could be decisive.

The climb is crested at 14 kilometres to go, and with a technical descent following it could be a chance for riders to get away.

However, the final 7 kilometres are along flat roads and thus a lone rider may struggle to hold off the field if there is a cooperative chasing group behind.

Today will be a key day for the men looking to contest the King of the Mountains jersey, so expect fireworks in the break, and in the peloton.

Join The Roar‘s live coverage of Stage 15 from 8:30pm (AEST).

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