Tour de France Tour de France 2024: Stage 19: Embrun - Isola 2000, 19/07 144.6k

[Valanga]

After passing through the Ubaye valley once more, it’s on to the highest pass (not paved road, as is often incorrectly claimed) in Europe, Cime de la Bonette.

Not that it matters much, but ... this is wrong as well.
The pass (or "col") of the Bonette is at 2,715 meters. Which is lower than the Col de l'Iseran (2,770 meters).
The loop to the top (or "Cime") is at 2,802 meters, making it higher than the Iseran, but ... it's not the pass anymore.
It is the highest paved road in the Alps though (you could argue about the Ötztaler Gletscherstraße but then you're in a 2 km long tunnel first just before reaching the parking space, so that doesn't count).
The highest paved road in Europe is in the Sierra Nevada, towards the Pico Veleta - although you can barely call it "paved" near the top.

 

[RedheadDane]

TV2 showing a clip from the first time Bonette was in the race:

"Even the photographers couldn't keep up!"

The photographer: *Had to run*...

 

[Poursuivant]

Hi all am on Isola 2000, having a bad day though, lost 20 Euros

 

[Berniece]

VLAB doesn't have to win the stage, only try cracking Pog. They can let a break go.

To crack Pog you need to set a high pace, a pace that will need to be set from the start, so I can't imagine a break being able to stay away

 

[AmRacer]

To crack Pog you need to set a high pace, a pace that will need to be set from the start, so I can't imagine a break being able to stay away

Almost every stage goes full gas from the gun.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Not that it matters much, but ... this is wrong as well.
The pass (or "col") of the Bonette is at 2,715 meters. Which is lower than the Col de l'Iseran (2,770 meters).
The loop to the top (or "Cime") is at 2,802 meters, making it higher than the Iseran, but ... it's not the pass anymore.
It is the highest paved road in the Alps though (you could argue about the Ötztaler Gletscherstraße but then you're in a 2 km long tunnel first just before reaching the parking space, so that doesn't count).
The highest paved road in Europe is in the Sierra Nevada, towards the Pico Veleta - although you can barely call it "paved" near the top.

'Pass' is a relative term because quite a few pass roads have a somewhat higher summit than the actual lowest point of the pass (Mont Cenis is a good example). In any case, from a cycling perspective a pass is a climb that you can do from two completely opposite sides, hence why people will refer to 'using Ventoux/Zoncolan as a pass' even though neither is technically a pass.

 

[Bombarolo]

Jumbo should try to do what Festina did on the Courchevel stage in 1997. Although the climbs are all different the stage innature was almost identical to today. Just as it was a long shot to crack Ullrich, it is a longshot to crack Pogacar. They did crack Pantani, though, so you never know.
But that was one of the best mountain stages of all time, still.

1	VIRENQUE Richard	Festina - Lotus		100		4:34:16
2	ULLRICH Jan	Team Telekom		70		,,
3	ESCARTÍN Fernando	Kelme - Costa Blanca		50		0:47
4	DUFAUX Laurent	Festina - Lotus		40		1:19
5	RIIS Bjarne	Team Telekom		32		1:24
6	PANTANI Marco	Mercatone Uno		26		3:06
7	CASAGRANDE Francesco	Saeco - Estro		22		3:36
8	JIMÉNEZ José María	Banesto		18		3:50
9	OLANO Abraham	Banesto		14		,,
10	CONTI Roberto	Mercatone Uno		10		4:41
11	LUTTENBERGER Peter	Rabobank ProTeam		8		7:13
12	LINO Pascal	BigMat - Auber 93		6		8:01
13	BUENAHORA Hernan	Kelme - Costa Blanca		4		10:25
14	ZBERG Beat	Mercatone Uno		2		10:58
15	BÖLTS Udo	Team Telekom		1		,,
16	CAMENZIND Oscar	Mapei-GB				11:10

They did crack Pantani, but mainly because he was sick.
Specifically, he got a light form of bronchitis.
He was ready to leave the TdF that day and retire.

 

[noob]

What was that building on water? Was it real or just graphic?

 

[TrekCyclist]

Jumbo should try to do what Festina did on the Courchevel stage in 1997. Although the climbs are all different the stage innature was almost identical to today. Just as it was a long shot to crack Ullrich, it is a longshot to crack Pogacar. They did crack Pantani, though, so you never know.
But that was one of the best mountain stages of all time, still.

Yes, that was a great stage. First Festina was in control and isolated Ullrich, later Ullrich and Riis were striking back.
There were rumors, though, that Festina was on some "special fuel" that day.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

My body is ready

 

[OJRvE]

An attack on the Cime de la Bonette only makes sense, if you have a teammate at the front, who waits for you on the top and can lead you on his wheel to the final climb, so I expect both UAE and Visma to try to put riders in the break today...

When Froome crushed everything in Finestre there were no teammates up the road. If you go all out on Bonette the gaps could be huge just like it was then. Since UAE are stronger as team it also make sense for Visma to make this 1 on 1. I expect Visma to drill Vars and Bonette to see if Vingegaard can gap Tadej and if he can the domestics will be far back so it will be 1 on 1 all the way to line. And if Vingegaard gaps Pog it is likely that he will increase the gap.

 

[Valanga]

'Pass' is a relative term because quite a few pass roads have a somewhat higher summit than the actual lowest point of the pass (Mont Cenis is a good example). In any case, from a cycling perspective a pass is a climb that you can do from two completely opposite sides, hence why people will refer to 'using Ventoux/Zoncolan as a pass' even though neither is technically a pass.

Sure it's a semantic discussion. But for the Bonette, I think it's quite clear where the pass ends, and the extra loop starts.
Anyway, as said, not really important, and your stage introduction was top notch, as always! ;-)

 

[Slavique Nuke]

Found 20 Euros on the ground in Isola 2000, my day is made.

Bet on Pog to win and you'll have 30 Euros.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Bet on Pog to win and you'll have 30 Euros.

Or I throw it at him to see if I get charged with assault.

 

[BullsFan22]

Visma will go early. Jonas will attack, but there’s a chance he cracks himself before he cracks Tadej. Or they both crack. Which will make for a cracking race.

 

[noob]

I can't get over Jonas cuteness in polka! May he buy a polka top/shirt instead of Bond villain turtlenecks!

 

[Berniece]

Almost every stage goes full gas from the gun.

Yes, and only when the peloton decides not to chase, like for example yesterday, and the day before, then the break stays away. But since Visma needs to make the race hard from the beginning, this won't happen.

 

[Berniece]

Depending on the result this image will be viewed in one of two ways. They destroyed him, or he destroys them.

 

[Danskebjerge]

I hear ya but who are the Bala types in the peloton now? I’m not sure there are many teams who would control confident they have someone who can deliver on final wall

I'm afraid UAE would control it, and then Pogacar would win with ease and take the bonus seconds. Gee might do well, too.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Good morning, chaps!

Visma is all in today! I hope Jonas makes the race exciting and gains time.

Edit: I see the highs today will only be 26C or 80F. Not much chance Tadej cracks today.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Found 20 Euros on the ground in Isola 2000, my day is made.

That's more than Cofidis has earnt in this Tour de France.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

What was that building on water? Was it real or just graphic?

A boat

 

[noob]

A boat

A boat that huge made of tree? Wow!

 

[Tim Cahill]

Just seen the photos they've released for the Olympics?

Local rapists still at large, approach with extreme caution

https://twitter.com/x/status/1814091104968450427

 

[gregrowlerson]

Wonderful scheduling for Australian viewers: Friday is in effect on the weekend.