The 100th edition of le Tour de France bids farewell to the Pyrenees with a stage designed by race organisers ASO to tempt the daring in to attacking.
The peloton depart from the town of Saint-Girons and crest five categorised climbs along the stage’s 168.5km route to the town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre. With a 30.5km descent in to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, we could see the likes of Cadel Evans, of BMC, test the bravery and descending of the other riders.
For the second consecutive day the sprinter’s thoughts shall turn to self-preservation. However, there is the distinct possibility that Peter Sagan, of Cannondale, will extend his lead in the Points Classification to well over 100 points.
With two categorised climbs preceding the Intermediate Sprint, there is the distinct possibility Cannondale could again apply a high tempo and distance the other sprinters.
With five categorised climbs there will be a total of 45 points on offer in the King of the Mountains classification, should one rider manage to crest each summit in first place. The spread out nature of Stage 9’s categorised climbs should suit the breakaway more then Stage 8, with more chances to collect points before the peloton potentially swallows up the breakaway.
The Category 2 Col de Portet d’Aspet, just 23.1km in to Stage 9’s route, is classified by race organisers ASO as a 5.4km long climb with an average gradient of 6.9%.
While the Category 1 Col de Menté, reached after descending roughly 8km from the summit of the Col de Portet d’Aspet, is categorised as a 7km long climb with an average gradient of 7.7%. After cresting the Col de Menté the peloton get some welcome respite from climbing for roughly 32km, before reaching the foot of the Col de Peyresourde.
The Col de Peyresourde heralds the beginning of a, potentially agonising, succession of three climbs for the peloton.
There will be little respite for the peloton as they summit one categorised climb only to descend in to start of another.
Classified as a 13.2km long climb with an average gradient of 7%, the Col de Peyresourde should suit tempo riding with its steady gradients of between 6-8.5%. This should warm up the legs of the climbers and General Classification riders for the two steeper climbs to come.
While shorter than the Col de Peyresourde, the Col de Val Louron-Azet has a steeper average gradient.
It is classified as a shorter, but harder, 7.4km long climb with an average gradient of 8.4%. There will be no hiding on the Col de Val Louron-Azet as the gradient never dips below 6.2%, with a tough 3km long section between 9.2-10.1% in gradient. In comparison, the Col de Peyresourde has two sections of 3 and 4%, both roughly 1000m in length.
The last climb for Stage 9, before the peloton descend in to the finish at Bagnères-de-Bigorre, is the La Hourquette d’Ancizan. Classified as being 9.9km in length and at an average gradient of 7.5%, the La Hourquette d’Ancizan will be the spring board for anyone looking to create a gap before beginning the descent.
Much like the Col de Peyresourde, the La Hourquette d’Ancizan has two sections of brief respite where the average gradient does not crest 5.5%. However, the remainder of the climb never dips below 6%, with a section found near the summit, and peaks near 10%, with a section at 9.5% found a couple of kilometres in to the climb.
With a fast, narrow, and sometimes quite technical, descent in to the town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre the stage arguably favours those who routinely exhibit bravery and great descending. With Vincenzo Nibali, of Astana, and Samuel Sanchez, of Euskaltel-Euskadi, absent from the Tour de France, it falls upon the shoulders of the likes of Cadel Evans to make something happen.
However, unlike in 2011, Christopher Froome and Sky Pro Cycling are arguably not as scared of, or deficient at, descending as the Schleck brothers were.
The stage feels like a better opportunity for a breakaway to once again steal the limelight, should the right group break free.
With Peter Sagan freakishly improved at climbing, and having won a similar style stage in the Tour de Suisse earlier, perhaps he will be involved in a breakaway, or keep up with the pack.
Ultimately, if no one attacks, or can establish a gap, the General Classification contenders could reach the line as one group. Where riders like Alejandro Valverde, of Movistar, may be the best “sprinter” left, if the breakaway is caught.
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