Tour 2015: Stage 19 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > La Toussuire
STAGE FACT
Start town St-Jean-de-Maurienne is home to the iconic Opinel knife — an item that’s become emblematic of French culture.
Today is all about the big guns slugging it out up big mountains. And we assume no one will be telling Chris Froome to slow down when he hits the final climb of La Toussuire this time round. It was here in 2012 that he put his own raceleading team-mate Bradley Wiggins on the back foot and created a tension between the two that never really got settled. Pierre Rolland won the stage.
Memories, eh?
Floyd Landis will also have painful recollections from the ski resort. The disgraced American blew up big time here in 2006 to lose his yellow jersey. He doped his way back to a most improbable recovery the following day but was caught shortly afterwards.
What other climbs are there today?
The stage opens with an up from kilometre zero. The Col du Chaussy is new on the Tour itinerary, although the lower slopes also provide the run-in for the previous day’s stage. You’ve then got the Col de la Croix de Fer (which incorporates the Col du Glandon) — a hors catégorie Tour staple — and the Col du Mollard on the way down from it just for kicks. The Mollard’s ascent is only 5 km but the switchbacked wooded descent is a little treat.
Any other business?
There’s so much good climbing packed into this small area, this short stage has to do an out-and-back loop up and down the valley just to find somewhere flat enough to stick the intermediate sprint.
What other climbs are there today?
The stage opens with an up from kilometre zero. The Col du Chaussy is new on the Tour itinerary, although the lower slopes also provide the run-in for the previous day’s stage. You’ve then got the Col de la Croix de Fer (which incorporates the Col du Glandon) — a hors catégorie Tour staple — and the Col du Mollard on the way down from it just for kicks. The Mollard’s ascent is only 5 km but the switchbacked wooded descent is a little treat.
Any other business?
There’s so much good climbing packed into this small area, this short stage has to do an out-and-back loop up and down the valley just to find somewhere flat enough to stick the intermediate sprint.
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