[ad_1]
Four days after the most peculiar start of the Tour de France, the most mountainous edition proposes this Tuesday its first arrival up high, on top of the first-class port of Orcières, an appointment in which the road will show the true state of the forces of favorites.
Rarely does the Tour propose a first high finish so early, but the organization set course for the southern Alps in this first foray into a massif before heading west.
Before tackling the final climb, the riders will pass three third-grade and one fourth-grade passes, attrition terrain and breakaway launching pads where stage victory can be decided. But all eyes will be on the last 7.1 kilometers that will lead to an arrival where in 1971 Luis Ocaña distanced his rivals in almost 9 minutes, including the Belgian Eddy Merckx.
Although the slope is very steep, which will make it difficult to have big differences between the favorites for the general classification, Orcières will show the level of form of the pretenders to the podium in Paris. The Tour will not be won on its ramps, but some may fall off the roster of suitors.
4th stage: Sisteron – Orcières-Merlette, 160.5 kilometers
Montana: Col de Festre (3rd), 93 km from the finish line Cota de Corps (4th), 63 from the finish Cota de Aullagnier (3rd), 35 from the finish line. Cota de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (3rd), has 19 goal Orcières (1st, 7.1 kilometers at 6.7%), in goal.
EFE
