8 days left, 6 mountain stages

Today the finish of the Tour stage is on the mythical Tourmalet. A horror "col" as mountains in Le Tour are called in the Pyrrennees. One where Belgians are home. Eddy Merckx once won a stage that had the Tourmalet on it's course with 8 minutes in front of the second rider. Insanity, and almost impossible these days.
Today, the helpers have a crucial role to fill, they have put their top riders out of the wind as long as possible, give them food and drinks, and if possible stay as long with them on the last climb until they drop. The life of a helper... This is not the most loved part of Le Tour for most riders, but it's money time.

Le col du Tourmalet, image courtesy of ASO

I guess today will already show the strength of the contenders, as Le Tourmalet doesn't lie. I expect Team Ineos to take the race in hands and decide the pace. Hard enough to keep contenders from attacking, and just not hard enough to burn their top riders, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal.

Julian Alaphilippe, image: Yuzuru Sunada

There are a few contenders that I expect, Thibaut Pinot, who did an amazing time trial for his skills, yesterday, Steven Kruijswijk, and... Julian Alaphilippe. Could he? Is he really capable of climbing with the best on a real monster climb like Le Tourmalet? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. It would sure as hell frighten Team Ineos.

Interesting race today!

Sincerely,

Pele23