Stage 13 preview: A new Pogacar masterclass incoming
After today’s blow by Pogacar, Eritropoetina looks ahead to the next stage: the individual mountain time trial to Peyragudes. What does the climb look like, and what can we expect?
After Hautacam, another GC test follows immediately with a mountain time trial to Peyragudes. Evenepoel and Vingegaard are licking their wounds, can they offer more resistance to Pogacar in this climbing time trial?
First rider to start: 13:10 (CET)
Last rider to start: 17:05 (CET)
Full startlist with all times of riders
Total length ITT stage 13: 10.9km
Elevation gain: 653m
Follow the time trial live at Domestique with our live report
There are two intermediate time checks, at 4 km in the beginning of the climb and at 7.6 km, before they start the steeper slopes
Before the riders start the climb to Peyragudes, there's a 2.8 km section along the Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle, which includes a 300-meter bump at 7.0%, followed by a mostly descending stretch leading to the foot of the climb.
The climb to Peyragudes is 8 km long with an average gradient of 7.8%, with the toughest section coming at the end.
The Altiport finish may not be new to the Tour, but it never fails to impress. The final 400 meters of this TT ramp up at a punishing 14.3%, peaking at 16%. It’s a brutal sting in the tail of a time trial, and we can expect to see more than a few riders crossing the line absolutely on or beyond their limit. James Bond fans have known this finish for a while, thanks to Tomorrow Never Dies.
Outcome
Pogačar delivered a heavy blow on the road to Hautacam. It’s hard to imagine anyone else is able to win this mountain time trial. The real question might be just how big his winning margin will be. I expect Vingegaard to finish second, around 50 seconds back. I also think Evenepoel will bounce back in this mountain time trial, although Lipowitz will be a serious challenge for him.
Merlier expressed concern earlier this week about whether everyone would finish within the time limit, but the cutoff is set at 33% of the winner’s time. I don’t expect anyone to finish outside the time limit unless illness comes into play.
History
The Tour has finished on the Peyragudes Altiport twice before. The first time ended in a tense sprint, with Froome being dropped by his teammate Landa, and Bardet taking the victory. The most recent finish saw Pogačar outsprint Vingegaard, thanks in large part to some outstanding work by Brandon McNulty.
