2019 Tour de France, stage 9: Saint-Étienne>Brioude 170,5Km

[sir fly]

C. PRUDHOMME'S COMMENT
One might recommend to be part of a breakaway to hope for success once in Brioude. But only those that will have been valiant on the Mur d’Aurec-sur-Loire, for instance, can conquer glory. A final selection will be made to go on the Côte de Saint-Just (3,7km at an average of 7,3 %), at 13kms from the finish at Brioude.

Brioude is first and foremost known to the cycling lover as the hometown of Romain Bardet, second in the Tour de France in 2016 and third in 2017. The leader of the Ag2R-La Mondiale outfit was born here on November 9, 1990 and took his first license at the Vélo Sport Brivadois in 2000. He joined the training structure of Ag2R-La Mondiale, Chambéry CF, in 2010. The rest of the story is better known.

The city of Haute-Loire received the Tour only once in the past, in 2008, for the start of a stage won authoritatively in Aurillac by Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez. In 2013, a Paris-Nice stage was convincingly won by American Andrew Talansky, on a day when the young local runner, then 22 years old, finished 6th. In 2014, the first stage of the Tour de l'Avenir ended in Brioude with a victory by Kristoffer Skjerping, then the under-23 Norwegian champion. After two seasons with Cannondale, Skjerping failed to convince at World Tour level and returned to Norway.

Km 27.5
Saint-Paul-en-Cornillon

Km 31
Aurec-sur-Loire

Km 55.5
Apinac

Km 73
Craponne-sur-Arzon

PUY-DE-DOME

Km 88
Dore-l’Eglise

 

[Leinster]

How narrow is the Puy de Dome road that it can never be used in the Tour again? Especially given the Planche finish used this year.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

How narrow is the Puy de Dome road that it can never be used in the Tour again? Especially given the Planche finish used this year.

They built a train track for lazy tourists, reducing the road to one lane. Still do-able IMO, and that would be a climb that riders wouldn't know where to rest and so forth.

For this stage, bonus time to create havoc on the last climb close to the finish. Maybe Jalaphilippe and Tibopino can do it again...

 

[Blanco]

Break all the way.

 

[movingtarget]

Similar to yesterday I suppose. A few GC riders will try something again on the last climb. Bardet ? Shame the Puy de Dome won't be used anymore.

 

[fuiers]

Re: 2019 Tour de France, stage 9: Saint-Étienne>Brioude 170,

Richie Porte. The day has come. Please make it to finish line.

 

[F_Cance]

I hope for a big break today.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Thomas De Gendt might join the breakaway. He has clearly been saving himself the past few days.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Bora and Sunweb have tried to control stages I never would have thought they would try to control, but the breakaway riders must man up today and not just end up as 4 as the previous, similar stages.. hopefully a really big, uncontrollable break forming on the hard climb assuring some really quality guys!

 

[Lequack]

Pretty easy win for viviani.

 

[THEORYY]

Re:

Pretty easy win for viviani.

you should bet your house if you see it pretty easy

 

[Laplaz]

No idea what to expect. Could be a big break or could be Alaphilippe again. It's Bastille day, so the frenchman must be super motivated.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Pretty easy win for viviani.

you should bet your house if you see it pretty easy

What will he do with many horses when he wins the bet?

Sunweb were quite impressive yesterday with how long many of their riders survived, so I think they will be able to bring the break back for a nice stage win for Sagan.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: 2019 Tour de France, stage 9: Saint-Étienne>Brioude 170,

Richie Porte. The day has come. Please make it to finish line.

 

[Red Rick]

Anyway I don't think a reduced bunch sprint is out of question

 

[happytramp]

The pictures of land marks and their km position are a nice touch to the stage info. Thanks.

 

[tobydawq]

Is the entire stage covered by forests? Otherwise, there will be quite a strong cross-wind.

 

[Salvarani]

It was very hard yesteday and who knows, maybe someone feeling a bit iffy today. The first week is always long. It is up and down all day. Less climbs than yesterday, but something could surely happen in the last climb.

Hoping for a big group in the breakaway and maybe someone to try something. Im not getting my hopes up too much though.

 

[tobydawq]

That first climb looks pretty hard by the way...

 

[Nirvana]

Theoretically with the first climb so hard could be a chance for break very but very strong forming from an exploded peloton but probably they are going to let go the usual 4 men break at the first opportunity and softpedal the climb since is the Tour and nothing interesting happens there...

 

[Orbit501]

A break for good climbers left to stage hunting maybe.
No doubt Ciccone and Meurisse will be lively again but will not be allowed to go.

 

[Lexman]

Wellens and Benoot in the break

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Break: Barguil, LLS, Herrada, Benoot + a guy from Wanty & one from DD, and some 4-5 other French riders (Vuillermoz, Gallopin, Molard, Calmejane). Something like that. GC men are going to watch each other, slow pace up the cat 1.

 

[klintE]

Bling from the break.

 

[Orbit501]

Re:

Break: Barguil, LLS, Herrada, Benoot + a guy from Wanty & one from DD, and some 4-5 other French riders (Vuillermoz, Gallopin, Molard, Calmejane). Something like that. GC men are going to watch each other, slow pace up the cat 1.

I'd love to see Barguil take the stage in a glorious moment on Bastille day wearing that Jersey Would be beautiful following on from yesterday.

I'm not convinced Calmejane is in very good form at the mo, and I think Rudy will be needing to save energy for dom duties down the line. Herrada seems favourite out of that lot for me.