THE NOTICE
On this Tour de France 2019 very undecided, every day its truth. After two stages in the Pyrenees where Thibaut Pinot was the strongest, the first foray into the Alps on Thursday, between Embrun and Valloire, highlighted the Colombian Egan Bernal. The White Jersey of the Tour, which was the only one to regain time with Julian Alaphilippe, attacked alone about four kilometers from the top of the Col de Galibier, impressing all the observers of the Great Loop, including the legendary Raymond Poulidor.
"We saw today (Thursday) a great climber, Bernal, and I think it's the favorite today," reacted "Poupou" in The Club Tour on Thursday. "What did not we say about this team Ineos, it was weak, but me, I watched the course of the event and there were still some of the team riders today at the outposts, and when Bernal attacked, who drove behind? It was the outgoing winner, Thomas, who rolled behind, because, if he let Bernal do, he could take a minute. who has been able to revive. "There are now two stages that will suit Bernal, and if he is given liberties, he will pose huge problems to Alaphilippus."
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Friday and Saturday, there are practically two hill races, which are very short, where all the talent of climber of Bernal will be able to express itself
Friday, the route, drawn between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Tignes, offers two pieces of choice: the Iseran pass, "roof" of the Tour (2.770 m), and the final climb to Tignes. Saturday, it will be explained in the last climb out of the Tour category, towards Val Thorens. It remains to be seen how the Ineos team will manage their duo of leaders, knowing that they are now grouped in ... five seconds (Bernal 1'30 "and Thomas 1'35"). "I do not know what Ineos sports directors are going to decide, are they going to favor the outgoing winner, or will Bernal have carte blanche?" For me, the two remaining stages are stages that I think it will be untenable, and let's not forget that it's happening at high altitude - there are practically two hill races, which are very short (126.5 km Friday and 130 km Saturday), where Bernal's talent as a climber will be able to express himself. "
But will that be enough to debunk Alaphilippe, who still has a minute and a half in advance, anyway? "One minute in the mountains is nothing, since Alaphilippe has finished very well and the other (Bernal) is a great climber who makes incredible differences," said the man with seven podiums. "In his attack, if Thomas does not roll behind, it takes a minute ( the Colombian rider explained that he attacked with the approval of the Welsh, who then tried to" test "other favorites, ed ). (...) I think that the winner is in this team, I would like to be mistaken for Alaphilippe, but it has been so wonderful so far, and Pinot has been a bit upset today. " Pinot and Alaphilippe in the footsteps of Bernard Hinault, the last winner of the Tour, in 1985, or Raymond Poulidor, subscriber to the places of honor on the Great Loop? The next two days will tell us.