The 2023 Tour de France resumes after the primary relaxation day with a hilly 167km stage 10 on Tuesday that fits punchy superstars Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel completely – if they’re let off the leash. Both riders are but to win a stage on this Tour, and the subsequent three days current alternatives earlier than the highway heads excessive into the Alps later this week.
This lumpy route takes the peloton into the centre of France, starting from Vulcania, passing via the Volcans d’Auvergne regional park and ending down within the small city of Issoire.
With 5 categorised climbs, together with the sizeable Col de Guery (7.8km at 5%) and the Croix Saint-Robert (6km at 6.3%), it will likely be a draining trip with just about no sustained flat sections, and a protracted descent to the end city. The sprinters will sit this out and it appears to be like like day to plot one thing within the breakaway, as the large common classification contenders save their legs for larger challenges to return.
Belgium’s Van Aert and Dutchman Van der Poel have lengthy been rivals, most notably on the cyclo-cross world championships the place they’ve completed one-two on 5 events. This yr Van der Poel beat Van Aert to the road in a dash end.
There have been loads of cross phrases down the years too however not too long ago their rivalry has mellowed, and so they have been stored aside at this Tour by advantage of their wider duties: Van der Poel has been pulling onerous for his Alpecin–Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen, who has received three dash phases; Van Aert has been working tirelessly for Jumbo-Visma chief Jonas Vingegaard, the person within the yellow jersey making an attempt to defend his crown.
If both are to win immediately then they might have to get within the breakaway, which the GC riders are prone to let escape up the highway simply as they did on stage 9, as long as the break doesn’t include any main threats to the highest of the leaderboard. If they will’t get within the break then their groups might want to work onerous to reel within the leaders and arrange extra of a bunch end. The climate is sizzling with some rain forecast too, and it’s all set as much as be one other eventful day on the Tour de France.
Stage 10 route map and profile
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Start time
The stage is ready to start at round 12.30pm BST and is anticipated to complete at round 4.30pm BST.
Prediction
If the breakaway goes to the tip then there are a complete host of riders who might win right here. Let’s go together with Van der Poel, who ought to have free rein to assault after doing a lot work for his workforce over the opening week.
