La Planche des Belles Filles: will today's Tour de France climb be make or break?
Primož Roglič may be looking to salvage his Tour de France by exorcising his 2020 demons on the brutal climb
Many climbs have earned their place in cycling folklore across the years. Some have gained their notoriety due to the misfortune of those attempting to conquer them, others due to the scenes of triumph and glory painted by some of the sport's most iconic figures. When you think of Ventoux you think of the late Tom Simpson, the Marmolada in the Giro d’Italia is a climb closely associated with Marco Pantani. Most monoliths of the Dolomites, Alps or Pyrenees are intertwined with an iconic story from a bike race.
La Super Planche des Belles Filles is just one of those climbs. Buried deep in the Vosges Mountains within eastern France, the mountain has played host to some of the most dramatic moments in recent memory at theTour de France. In 2012 Chris Froome displayed the signs of what was to come in his career as he famously left the winner that year, Bradley Wiggins, behind in pursuit of a memorable stage win.
Eight years later, the climb would become synonymous with the suffering inflicted on Primož Roglič by analmighty Tadej Pogačar. That infamous day at the 2020 Tour de France was one of those sporting moments that reminds you just why you fell in love with the race. Dramatic, edge of the seat viewing that will be remembered for years to come. Each turn of Pogačar's pedals that fateful afternoon twisted the knife in Roglič's torment. A day full of glorious memories for the defending champion and one that turned the Tour de France on its head.
The climb itself is a beast of a mountain. By the time the riders reach the summit, they will have climbed more than 1,035 metres from Plancher Les Mines, averaging at a leg-sapping 8.5% gradient. Although the torture inflicted on sore and aching muscles will not end there. On Friday the finish line will be at the end of a short gravel section previously used in the Tour which rockets up to 24%. A gradient that would generate a shudder in even the most fearless of climbers.
After winning a dramatic stage in 2019 that finished on the mountain gravel, Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Victorious) is a man who knows how difficult the climb is. Teuns toldbeplay手机客户端下载that the addition of the gravel section makes it that more challenging.
The Belgian rider said: “It was my first win in the Tour and will always be a special one. It’s a hard climb and then they added the gravel section in. It was the first time they had done that when I won and it made it super special. The gravel section for sure makes it even more difficult, the steepest part is just there at the end.”
车手谁能解决短,锋利的山是unlikely to make it to the summit with the favourites, which means we’re likely to potentially see a new polka-dot jersey wearer at the end of the day. Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF-Education EasyPost)took the Polka-Dot jerseyover the course of the opening weekend and has held it valiantly all week. Although by the time Saturday morning dawns, it may well have been removed from his shoulders as the Danes time is up.
‘Plank of the Beautiful Women’ as it’s otherwise known, requires a different breed of bike rider. It requires those riders that possess an ability to go so far into the red that nobody else can follow. That’s meant as no disrespect to Cort Nielsen. He will well know that it’s not a climb for him. It’s where those hoping to not allow Pogačar to canter away to overall glory will need to come into their own.
Ineos Grenadiers's pair, Adam Yates and Geraint Thomas, are two of those riders. As is Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). However the main character who has a score to settle here is Primož Roglič.
In a heavy crash on Wednesdays cobbled stage,Roglic dislocated his shoulderbefore then putting it back into place himself. Most mere mortals would have packed it up there and then, however Roglič has been there before. He is a purebred warrior who knows exactly how to suffer and still come out fighting. Moments beforeTadej Pogačar stormed to victory在舞台上6、Rogličtrademark attack looking to fight back with a stage win and to show he’s not out yet.
In 2022, ‘La Planche’ will have a key role to play in two races. On July 31 it plays host to the final stage of the inaugural Tour de France Femmes, and could well be the theatre for a huge final battle between the race leaders.
Featuring at the end of the first week this year in the Tour de France, it may be too early for ‘La Planche’ to play a decisive role like it did so stunningly two years ago. However, once the gravel of the final few meters arrives Primož Roglič will be more than ready to put his demons to bed and show he’s up for the fight all the way to Paris.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just£1 / $1 / €1
Tom is a News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly, and previously worked in communications at Oxford Brookes University. Alongside his day job, prior to starting with the team, he wrote a variety of different pieces as a contributor to a cycling website, Casquettes and Bidons, which included interviews with up and coming British riders.
-
-
Review: rigid and roomy, Topeak’s unassuming Tubular Barbag may just be one of the best
We reviewed Topeak's newest bar bag, the Tubular Barbag. It's performed well and became an immediate favorite. Here's why.
By Samantha Nakata •Published
-
Naked Bike Rides take place the world over - here's why
The Summer Solstice once again saw people bare it all and bike through the streets of their cities. We explore this global phenomenon in which activism, community building and cycling collide.
By Hector Cervantes •Published
-
Tom Pidcock aims to go ‘a step further’ at Tour de France 2023
Ineos' Rod Ellingworth says British rider ‘still has some work to do’ in order to make GC push main objective
By Tom Thewlis •Published
-
Tour de France 2023 start list: All the teams' riders for the Grande Boucle
The full list of teams and riders competing at the 110th edition, which begins 1 July
By Adam Becket •Published
-
Which new national champions will be at the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes?
There will be some new riders in distinctive jerseys in Bilbao this weekend, and in Clermont-Ferrand in a month
By Adam Becket •Published
-
Mark Cavendish confirmed for his final Tour de France as he hunts stage win record
Astana Qazaqstan head to Bilbao with squad split between sprints and general classification
By Adam Becket •Published
-
Egan Bernal returns to Tour de France for Ineos Grenadiers
Colombian part of eight-man squad along with Tom Pidcock, Dani Martínez and Carlos Rodríguez
By Adam Becket •Published
-
The five unmissable stages of the Tour de France 2023: From Bilbao to the Alps
There will be action across all 21 stages, but watch out for these five in particular
By Adam Becket •Published
-
Chris Froome not selected for Tour de France 2023
38-year-old misses out on 'ultimate goal' as Israel-Premier Tech confirm eight-man squad
By Tom Davidson •Published
-
21 riders to watch at the Tour de France 2023: It's not just Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar
Who will stand out over the 21 stages from Bilbao to Paris? Here are Cycling Week's picks
By Adam Becket •Published