PHOTOGRAPHS : ASO / ALEX BROADWAY , ETIENNE GARNIER
STAGE 7
“ The area where I was born ”
This is the longest stage of the Tour . At 249.1km , it ’ s as long as a Classic and features 3 000m in vertical gain as it crosses the Morvan . The start in Vierzon will be a special moment for me . We ’ ll be in the Cher , the same department as Saint-Amand- Montrond , the town where I was born and where I raced a lot during my early cycling years . The final section , where there are two short climbs , is really interesting . The day ’ s big test is the Signal d ’ Uchon , which has ramps of up to 18 % with 18km to go . Then , with 8km to go , there ’ s the Côte de Gourloye . It ’ s a very exciting finish !
STAGE 8
“ A finish where I ’ ve already won ”
This is the first mountain stage . The final part of the stage is the same as when I won in 2018 . Even though I know it will hurt my legs on the day , the combination of the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombière remains one that I ’ ll relish because of the huge emotion it brought in my career . Just before the Col de Romme , there ’ s the climb of Mont-Saxonnex . I don ’ t know it , but on paper it looks difficult . It ’ s a really good-looking stage . It ’ s nice to be contemplating a finale where I ’ ve already won . I hope to have good legs so that I can shine here again .
STAGE 11
“ I ’ ve never been to the Ventoux summit ”
The summit of Mont Ventoux twice in one day ! I ’ ve done it twice , but never right to the top , only to Chalet Reynard . I first tackled the Ventoux during my Tour debut in 2016 . I was at the back and didn ’ t push too hard . It was quite the opposite back in February at the Tour de la Provence , where I finished third on the stage behind the Colombians Iván Sosa and Egan Bernal . That day , I gave it everything and enjoyed myself because I felt good . The Tour stage will be something else , of course , with all of the big leaders taking each other on .
STAGE 15
“ The Col de Beixalis is a tough one !”
The Tour is heading for Andorra , where I ’ ve been living for three years . I won ’ t need to recce the route , as these are roads that I use very , very often . The Port d ’ Envalira is very high and very long . To finish , we have the Col de Beixalis , which is a little over 6km long and is a tough one ! Especially on the side that we ’ ll climb , which is really steep . In its opening kilometres , the road is very narrow , only a car-width across . We rode it during the 2016 Tour , when there was fog and rain at the finish at Andorra- Arcalis . The descent is very technical as well , on a small road that has lots of bends towards the bottom . We ’ ll come into the finish town very quickly . I live 200m from the end of the descent . ●
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