Despite not even hitting the first rest day, Stage 9 of the Tour de France has been labelled the hardest of the lot, and it’s not hard to see why with seven categorised climbs. Join The Roar for live updates and coverage from 8pm (AEST).
This is going to be quite the stage, and after yesterday’s frantic pace, it could come down to who recovers best when the peloton reach the penultimate climb of the day at the Mont du Chat.
While it’s not a summit finish for the day, seven climbs – three of them being ranked as outside categorisation – makes fo a gruelling day in the saddle.
Starting out in Nantua, the race wastes no time in going uphill, and interestingly there was a nearly identical stage during the recent Criterium du Dauphine, which saw current yellow jersey wearer Chris Froome ride brilliantly alongside Richie Porte.
The Category 2 Côte des Neyrolles and Category 3 Col de Bérentin are both summited within the first 11 kilometres, but besides ensuring it’s a difficult breakaway to make, they will only serve as warm-up climbs for the remainder of the day.
The race then plateaus and descends before reaching the Category 3 Côte de Franclens, again nothing more than a lump on today’s profile.
The serious stuff starts shortly afterwards though with the Col de la Biche, also known as the Croix de Famban being the first HC climb of the day.
It’s 10.5 kilometres at nine per cent and with the steepness, could lay the platform for riders like Thibaut Pinot and Pierre Roland, who have already lost stacks of times to go on the offensive early.
The worst bit about the Col de la Biche is that it doesn’t go straight back downhill, but rather goes slightly down, then back up for a short length of time before descending to the base of the Grand Colombier.
The famous climb, checking in at 1501 metres above sea level is another 8.5 kilometres at 9.9 per cent and will test the peloton to hold any sort of rhythm, with the climb reaching a maximum gradient of 22 per cent.
If the breakaway doesn’t have a lead by then, they should develop one as the race descends then goes into a 30-kilometre section of valley roads with only the intermediate sprint and a Category 4 climb to keep things interesting.
The penultimate climb of the Mont du Chat then follows, summited about 26 kilometres from the finish line. It averages over 10 per cent for it’s 8.7 kilometres, but starts and finishes slightly below that mark, leaving the middle two kilometres averaging 14 and 15 per cent respectively.
Prediction
There’s no question that this is going to be one hellish stage. Team Sky controlled things as well as could have been expected yesterday, but it would have burnt a lot of energy out of the tank.
If they can do the same over seven climbs today – three of them likely to be very aggressive due to their percentages and shortened lengths, they will have proven beyond all reasonable doubt they can take Froome to Paris.
What’s likely to happen is that Froome will have to work for himself, and no one has any idea about how he will go doing that. Richie Porte was great on this stage at the Dauphine and appears to be in good touch, while Fabio Aru is also a man to watch.
This is going to be a battle for Porte and Froome though, with Froome holding yellow, Porte moving up into second and a breakaway taking the stage win – watch for Pierre Roland, Thibaut Pinot and Lotto Soudal rider Jurgen Roelandts. You can never discount Thomas Voeckler on a day like today, either.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 9 at the Tour de France from 8pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
G'day James - I'm really not sure. The footage available isn't conclusive in the slightest.
jameswm
Roar Guru
So did Aru cut in front of him or was it just one of those things?
Scott Pryde
Expert
I respect Froome for what he does. He is a hell of a rider, but let's have someone else win the stage, and take the ten seconds. The last thing we need for this race is the Sky procession to Paris to get easier with added seconds. And besdies, there were good news stories that needed to win today. Not the bloke who will be in yellow in two weeks time.
Mad Dog
Guest
Not a Froome fan Scott?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, what a crazy, epic, dramatic and unfortunately, disappointing day of racing for Australia. Richie Porte is out, Chris Froome moves one step closer to a fourth Tour de France and we now head into a rest day. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 Tour de France. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Obviously, no Tour tonight with a rest day, but we will be back on Tuesday from 10pm (AEST) with Brendon Vella in the chair to take you through Stage 10. In the meantime, be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage of Wimbledon. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 38:26:28 2. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 0:18 3. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) + 0:51 4. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) + 0:55 5. Jakob Fgulsang (Astana) + 1:37 6. Daniel Martin (Quickstep) + 1:44 7. Simon Yates (Orica) + 2:02 8. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 2:13 9. Mikel Landa (Astana) + 3:06 10. George Bennett (Lotto Jumbo) + 3:53
Scott Pryde
Expert
TOP TEN 1. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale Drapac) @ 5:07:22 2. Warren Barguil (Sunweb) + 0:00 3. Chris Froome (Sky) + 0:00 4. Romain Bardet (AG2R) + 0:00 5. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 0:00 6. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) + 0:00 7. George Bennett (LottoJumbo) + 0:00 8. Mikel Landa (Sky) + 0:00 9. Daniel Martin (Quick Step) + 0:00 10. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 0:00
Scott Pryde
Expert
Update on Porte. Race doctor said he is okay. In hospital now and that he had to brake to avoid a rider in front - that was Aru.
Scott Pryde
Expert
If my maths is right, the time cut today it going to be roughly 39 minutes and 47 or 48 seconds. There is almost zero chance Arnaud Demare and Mark Renshaw will be in the race on Tuesday.
Scott Pryde
Expert
He does get forgotten, but I think he gets forgotten because it's been a long time since he did anything of note in the big races. He looked in superb touch today and isn't far back on GC. I don't think he can win the race, but a top five is a possibility.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full results to come. Still waiting for news on Richie Porte, but he has been taken to hospital. What an action packed day of racing. Porte is out, Froome has added four seconds to his lead and Aru attacked after a mechanical for the yellow jersey wearer. That stage really did have a little bit of everything.
Jon
Roar Rookie
Glad to see Uran win that. He seems like a nice guy and often also gets forgotten next to his more fancied and famous competitors.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Barguil sounded like the good news story, but as long as it wasn't Froome.
Scott Pryde
Expert
RIGOBERTO URAN WINS STAGE 9 There it is! The photo has reversed it! Uran has won by absolutely nothing. The officials had already taken Barguil behind the podium. Incredible. Barguil second and more importantly, Froome in third which means he gets a four second time bonus. That could prove to be huge after such a daunting stage.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Contador coming up to the line now. He is over 4 and a quarter minutes behind along with Latour.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The photo might reverse this! Uran by nothing by the looks of it.
Jon
Roar Rookie
Given his mechanical I was going for Uran in these final metres.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dan Martin opens the sprint behind, with Quintana, Bennett, Yates and Nieve in that group. Bennett comes through and grabs sixth. They lost 1:15. Just waiting for the photo.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Froome puts the hammer down and opens up a gap, but it's Uran and Fuglsang who shut it down. They now start playing cat and mouse, but it's Fuglsang who attacks away. The Astana rider opens the gap, Uran tries to get it going in his massive geat and hits the front. Uran there as well, then it's Barguil over the top and he wins! What a victory! Barguil has earnt every part of that with five Sunweb riders in the break earlier today and an incredibly aggressive day. Barguil will be on the podium for the stage win and the KoM jersey. They are calling a photo finish.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Froome leads the group into the final kilometre are Barguil struggles to hang on at the back.