Nostalgia needed to score a point like this. Before La Planche de Belles Filles, there was Alpe d’Huez as the reference port for the end of the stage. But perhaps the first climb that became the mythical goal of the great French race was the Puy de Dôme. In the heart of the Massif Central, for more than 30 years, it hosted some of the great battles to win the yellow jersey. Until suddenly, in 1988, he disappeared from the stage map.
Until this Sunday. The organization decided to rescue the Puy de Dôme despite the logistical difficulties in reaching a protected environmental environment. But the ramps always above 10% of the last 4.5 km venture a new face to face between the great favorites.
To add more excitement, the last four kilometers will be closed to the public and road traffic. The team cars will remain in the parking lot of the panoramic viewpoint, something that always causes nerves in the directors, who cannot closely monitor any breakdown or setback of their important cyclists.
His road has seen mythical images such as those of Anquetil and Poulidor shoulder to shoulder the day Julio Jiménez won. Ocaña’s first major attack on Eddy Merckx, three days before the deed of Orciéres Merlette. Or the punch of an amateur in the liver of the Belgian champion, now a veteran, the last time he was on the podium (second after Thévenet).
Without forgetting that Coppi (1952), Bahamontes (1959) and Luis Ocaña (1973) won there to cement their triumph in the general. Spectacular as well as decisive.
The Puy de Dome is a mountain that loves the Spanish (five victories) but has also conquered a Dane already. It was Johnny Weltz, who defended the colors of Fagor, and won from the breakaway the last time he rode, in 1988. That day he did not raise his arms but Pedro Delgado, third, made it clear that the yellow jersey was not going to escape him, since who, far from wasting time, endorsed another minute to the Dutchman Rooks, his closest rival.
Pay attention to the schedule as the stage is expected to end after 6:00 p.m.
