Tour de France stage 19 preview: The legendary Alpe d’Huez awaits

With only one major opportunity remaining after today, stage 19 could prove decisive in the battle for the yellow jersey.

The route from Gap to Alpe d’Huez is relatively short, but there will be little respite. Three classified climbs precede the final ascent, while more than 3,400 metres of elevation gain will test riders who are already deep into the third week of the Tour.

Key information:

• Start: 14:15 (CET)
• Estimated Finish: 17:24 (CET)
• Stage type: mountain
• Stage length: 129.06km
• Elevation gain: 3467m

Follow stage 19 live at Domestique with our live reporting.

There is no gentle introduction to stage 19. The road begins climbing almost immediately towards the Col Bayard, a 4.4km ascent at an average gradient of 7.9%.

It is a demanding start that could produce an intense battle for the breakaway. Riders hoping to attack will need to be ready from the flag, while those with ambitions later in the stage may choose to warm up extensively before the start.

A 14km descent and a rolling section follow. The road includes a short climb of 1.3km at 6.8% before the peloton reaches the Col du Noyer.

At 7.5km and 8.1%, the first category ascent is one of the hardest climbs of the stage. Its final kilometres are particularly severe, including a 1.1km section at 11%.

The middle of the stage consists largely of a long, undulating valley. There are no major classified climbs during this 70km section, but the constantly changing terrain will make it difficult for riders to recover.

The Col d’Ornon marks the beginning of the finale. The climb is 5.1km long at 6.5% and is followed by a technical descent and approximately four kilometres of flatter road.

Then comes Alpe d’Huez.

The iconic climb measures 13.7km at an average of 8%. Its famous hairpins and sustained gradients provide the final major test of the day, although the final 1.8km are considerably gentler at approximately 3.8%.

• Col Bayard | 2nd category - 4.4km at 7.9% - 123km to go
• Col du Noyer | 1st category - 7.5km at 8.1% - 103km to go
• Intermediate sprint - 28.5km to go
• Col d'Ornon | 2nd category - 5.1km at 6.5% - 29km to go
• Alpe d'Huez | hors catégorie - 13.7km at 8% - 0km to go

Illness is threatening to derail UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s plans for the decisive mountain stage to Alpe d’Huez. Tadej Pogačar may therefore have to put his personal ambitions aside and focus on protecting the team’s wider objectives.

Adam Yates looked better in stage 18 than he had the previous day, but it is unlikely that he has already returned to full fitness. Brandon McNulty had to abandon due to ilness, while Tim Wellens also appeared far from his best. Florian Vermeersch was dropped earlier than expected and later referred to an unspecified injury.

The key question is whether the illness has spread further through the team. If UAE Team Emirates-XRG is unable or unwilling to control the race, the balance of the stage could change dramatically.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe may contribute to the chase, especially after Remco Evenepoel beat Pogačar and Isaac Del Toro in stage 15. However, it seems unlikely that they will commit significant resources, as Evenepoel’s main priority remains his position in the general classification. The same applies to Decathlon CMA CGM, who are focused on Paul Seixas’ podium ambitions.

That lack of control could open the door for the breakaway on one of cycling’s most iconic climbs.

One rider who could benefit from UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s problems is Thymen Arensman. The Netcompany-Ineos climber was part of the breakaway in stage 18, but his pre race comments suggested that stage 19 was already his main target. His approach during the stage reinforced that impression.

Arensman will be highly motivated on Alpe d’Huez, a climb with a special place in Dutch cycling history. He can also count on the support of Egan Bernal, who remains a valuable asset in a stage of this nature. Bernal appears to have less energy after also riding for the general classification at the Giro, so a personal stage victory may be unrealistic. However, he could play an important role in setting up Arensman.

Should the race develop into another battle between the general classification contenders, Tadej Pogačar remains the obvious favourite. His defeat in stage 15 was largely the result of riding in support of Isaac Del Toro rather than a sign of weakness.

The situation is similar here. Pogačar has the strength to win, but UAE Team Emirates-XRG is also trying to put Del Toro on the podium in Paris and secure the white jersey. With illness affecting the team, combining those objectives with a stage victory may prove difficult.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike must reassess its ambitions after Jonas Vingegaard’s withdrawal. That brings Sepp Kuss firmly into contention. Kuss generally prefers long and punishing mountain stages, but the severity of the final climb should compensate for the relatively short distance.

The team also has Davide Piganzoli as an option. The young Italian is riding his second consecutive Grand Tour, which makes his continued consistency in the third week particularly impressive. He sits 13th overall, but is far enough behind in time to have some freedom. The profile of the stage should suit him well.

Richard Carapaz went deep to win stage 18, but the EF Education-EasyPost rider has repeatedly shown that he can perform on consecutive mountain days. The shorter distance may even work in his favour, allowing him to race aggressively once again.

Remco Evenepoel is also in outstanding form. He beat Pogačar in stage 15, although the Slovenian was primarily riding in support of Del Toro. Evenepoel’s main objective will be defending second place in the general classification, but another stage victory is possible if the tactical situation allows it.

For Decathlon CMA CGM, the next two stages are likely to revolve around Paul Seixas. The Frenchman remains within touching distance of Del Toro and will be determined to fight for a place on the final podium. Overtaking the Mexican will not be easy, but Alpe d’Huez offers an opportunity to apply serious pressure.

Tobias Halland Johannessen endured a difficult stage 18, but he has demonstrated several times that he can recover quickly from a setback. The Uno-X Mobility rider is an aggressive and resilient racer, so another attempt can be expected.

The same applies to Valentin Paret-Peintre. The Soudal Quick-Step climber combined a pursuit of mountains classification points with a bid for the stage victory, an extremely demanding task. Despite his small frame, he possesses an exceptional engine and is unlikely to abandon his attacking approach.

Other riders to watch are Antonio Tiberi for Bahrain-Victorious, Ben O’Connor for Jayco AlUla, Einer Rubio for Movistar and Michael Storer for Tudor.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Arensman

⭐⭐⭐⭐  Pogačar, Kuss

⭐⭐⭐  Carapaz, Evenepoel, Del Toro

⭐⭐  Seixas, Johannessen, V. Paret-Peintre, Piganzoli

⭐  Bernal, Tiberi, O'Connor, Rubio, Storer