14 DAY TRIAL // The first high latitude finish of Le Tour de France is upon us, with riders getting ready to roll the close to 200 km to the small sky station called Planche des Belle Filles.
This stage starts at an altitude of 218 meters back in Tomblaine and ends up at 1,035 meters, after a last section climb which includes an average gradient of 8.5 percent and steep sections that reach 13%.
It’s not the most punishing climb that cyclists will take on this year, but it will certainly separate the wheat from the chaff and will probably lead to the coveted Yellow Jersey changing hands, although powerful riders are fearful of getting its responsibilities so early during a Grand Tour.
In the virtual world this is also the first important test (I was tempted to write “real”) for my leader, Frank Schleck, and for his mountain support team.
My plan is to keep any breakaway close to the peloton on the first Category 1 climb, close the gap after that, set a fierce pace at the bottom of the climb and then, as long as Frank seems to be feeling well and no one else attacks from range, go for the victory.
The only problem is that many other teams that have GC hopes will probably have the exact same plan.
Despite the best efforts of a strong breakaway group of 10 solid riders, including Vinokurov of Astana, and the attacks launched by Alberto Contador (banned from riding in real life) I have managed to execute my plan and get the stage win, moving behind just Cadel Evans in the overall classification.
Of course, I will need more and bigger mountain wins in order to make up for my limited time trial ability.
Take a look at how the end of the stage shaped up:
