Key events
More on the decision to shorten the ninth stage from Jeremy Whittle in Bergerac:
Undoubtedly the graphics team at ASO were a little gutted to have to fire up the file named ‘stage_9_route_V4_final’ and have to chop out 30km but here we are. This is what the riders will be working with today:
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Preamble
When Tadej Pogacar has an unassailable lead it is days like today that mean that the Tour de France never remains less than compelling.
Shortened by 30km because of the red heatwave alert in Corrèze département of central France, this lumpy 155.5km run from Malemort to Ussel comes on the eve of the first rest day, offering interest to the peloton’s lurkers, breakaway specialists and the bold.
The Suc au May is steep enough to entice a climber to have a dart but we are probably looking at a Mads Pedersen-type winner, if the Lidl-Trek rider does not fancy it himself. Maybe without the pains of saddle sores, Tom Pidcock would be a contender to add to his sole stage win at the Tour. Quinn Simmons and Mathias Vacek will also be eyeing this one up for sure.
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