After Saturday’s fireworks on the Tourmalet and in Saint-Lary-Soulan, Sunday’s Stage 15 route continues with more big climbs ahead, providing the perfect battlefield for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) and their rivals to test each other to the limit.
It’s Bastille Day too, so it will be a festival atmosphere in the Pyrenees for the French fans and everyone who has have travelled to France to watch the biggest cycling race in the world.
This third Sunday of the Tour could well prove crucial following Pogacar’s successful Saint-Lary-Soulan assault, which has improved his advantage in the Yellow Jersey to 1’57” over Vingegaard, with Evenepoel now trailing by 2’22” in third.
The Pyrenean terrain on Stage 15 is prime for revenge or indeed further confirmation of the superiority of UAE and their Slovenian leader. With 4,850 metres of vertical gain on the Sunday menu - over almost 200 kilometres of racing - all manner of scenarios could play out, and it’s possible that teammates of the GC contenders will attempt to infiltrate or annihilate the breakaway climbing the Peyresourde.
That would prove invaluable given what lies ahead, especially for a finale that features the climbs of the Col d’Agnes and the Port de Lers followed by the final ascent up to Plateau de Beille. It will also be an important day in the fight for control of the polka dot jersey given that in total there are five climbs on the stage ranked category one or above. Whatever happens the riders are sure to be grateful for Monday’s final rest day of the Tour.
