The Alpe d’Huez is not the tallest mountain in Stage 12 of the 2018 Tour de France. In fact, it’s the shortest of the 3 hors categorie climbs in the stage.
Still, with its’ legendary switchbacks and storied history, it’s going to get all of the focus from most everyone, so let’s get it out of the way. Roger Simpson! Eddy Merckx! Mario Pantani! 21 switchbacks! Sure, the Alpe may be steeper, but the peloton has to contend with the Col de la Madeleine and the Col de la Croix de Fer first (the Iron Cross. Gotta love that!).
Stage 12 is going to be all about who has the legs, and if today’s stage is any indication, there are plenty of guys who could contend on Thursday.
Meanwhile, everyone is talking about Team Sky holding the top two positions. It must suck to be Geraint Thomas, having to sit in a press conference and go on about how Chris Froome is the team leader, even though he’s wearing sitting there wearing the yellow jersey.
Consider that it took Sky 11 stages to get the yellow jersey this year and that it’s not even in the hands of the team leader yet. Sunweb, Mitchelton-SCOTT, Movistar and Bahrain-Merida – even Ag2R – may still have some cards to play yet. There will be a break, Sky will control the peloton, and the last 5-10 kilometers are going to make the rest of the feed worth watching.
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
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