There is an even distribution of climbs in the 9th stage. After 20 kilometres the riders crest the Côte de Domancy – 2.5 kilometres at 9.4% –, after which the route continues to rise for another 6.5 kilometres. At kilometre 50 the Col des Saisies – 9.4 kilometres at 6.2% – is the second summit of the day.
By now, the breakaway should be established. Are the attackers able to hold on until the finish line? Could be, since the next climbs are not extremely hard. On the other hand, the 9th stage serves the first summit finish in the high mountains, so some GC riders will want to put down a marker.
The ensuing climbs, Col du Pré – 12.6 kilometres at 7.7% – and Cormet de Roselend – 5.7 kilometres at 6.5% – are linked together by an undulating section of around 7 kilometres.
The final verdict will be given in a 21 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 5.6%. In ski resort Tignes the route continues 2 kilometres on the flat before the finish line appears.
Chances are that the race will end with a sprint of the strongest GC riders. Or an attacker brings the breakaway home.
Obviously, the start list is not yet confirmed and it remains to be seen who is on form this summer, so we’ll update this article later.
Favourites stage 9 Tour de France 2021
*** Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz, Tadej Pogacar
** Egan Bernal, Mikel Landa, Romain Bardet, Geraint Thomas
* Marc Hirschi, Tiesj Benoot, Julian Alaphilippe, Thomas De Gendt
Other interesting reads:
– route stage 9
– provisional start list Tour de France 2021