Good descenders are treated this Tour de France. The 15t stage is yet another mountainous test with a downhill finale. From the top of the Col de Beixalis the finale is a 14.5 kilometres descent into Andorra-la-Vieille.
An intense battle for the breakaway is to be expected. Taking in a 19 kilometres climb to start, the stage invites mountain goats with an adventurous mind to try their luck. After the descent, the riders penetrate the Pyrenees in a grueling test. The last 100 kilometres of the race serves the Montée de Mont-Louis (8.4 kilometres at 5.7%), Col de Puymorens (5.9 kilometres at 4.6%), Port d’Envalira (10.7 kilometres at 6.2%) and Col de Beixalis (6.4 kilometres at 8.5%).
The question is how much leeway the attackers are allowed by the teams with yellow ambitions. Or, in other words, will we see the breakaway battle it out for the stage win? Another scenario is that the GC contenders go head to head on the Col de Beixalis before sprinting for victory in the streets of Andorra-la-Vieille. Obviously, a combination of both scenario’s is also a possibility.
Favourites stage 15 Tour de France 2021
*** Tadej Pogacar, Julian Alaphilippe, Sepp Kuss, Nairo Quintana
** Jakob Fuglsang, Alejandro Valverde, Ion Izagirre, Steven Kruijswijk
* Tao Geoghegan Hart, Vincenzo Nibali, Richard Carapaz, Bauke Mollema, Sergio Higuita
Another interesting read: route 15th stage 2021 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2021 stage 15: profiles & finish
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