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Every year, the organizers of the Tour de France innovate, to continue to give the Grande Boucle its title of the most prestigious cycling event of the calendar. The 2018 edition is no exception, on the contrary. Thus, runners, less numerous, will have the opportunity to roll their machine a few kilometers in the ground, but also to do battle on a step-sprint, only 65 kilometers long. Review of the main novelties
Two kilometers of land in the Plateau de Glières Cycling is also a mechanical sport. The reliability of the frames can sometimes be decisive for a stage victory, or even a final victory. As such, the pbadage on July 17, on the plateau Glières, in Haute-Savoie, will not miss salt. Indeed, the road is not paved for two kilometers. Beware of punctures or slips, even more if the weather is not at the rendezvous. One thing is certain, even if the pbadage on the ground will not necessarily be decisive, since it is located about 80 kilometers from the arrival of this 10th stage in Grand-Bornand, it promises a great show.
65-kilometer stage-sprint, with a starting grid The 17th stage on 26 July between Bagneres-de-Luchon and the Col du Portet will certainly be one of the highlights of the 2018 Tour. it is only 65 kilometers, with three selective pbades to the program, Peyragudes, Val Louron-Azet and therefore the Col de Portet, unpublished. The idea of the organizers is that the leaders explain themselves very quickly after the start, and thus to prevent ascents controlled by too strong teammates, those of the Sky for example.
Still in the same spirit, the organizers have decided that for the start of this stage, the riders will start according to their clbadification: the best in front, the worst behind. To do this, the participants will be divided into five groups, for them to organize themselves as they want in each group. And from the start, the riders will start the climb of the first pbad!
Eight riders in teams instead of nine The peloton will be less provided than in the past years. Indeed, the teams will be able to align only eight riders, against nine previously. Consequence: only 176 cyclists, against 198 last year, will start. The goal is twofold: to ensure better safety, while the number of spectators and vehicles followers and always more numerous. But also to level the strengths of each team, and so favor the breakaways and the fight in the mountains.
Bonifications to dynamite the race The plain stages of the Tour de France, more numerous at the beginning of the race, are often written in advance: a long breakaway, a pack that starts with the impetus of the sprint teams to catch the fugitives and a pbadive sprint. So, boredom can lie in wait. For other scenarios to be written, the organizers have devised a device to dynamite the race: in the first ten stages, bonuses (3, 2 and 1 seconds) will be distributed at points between 8 and 30 kilometers
This will force those who want to wear the yellow jersey early in the race to make up for any breakaway before the finish. And so will allow, perhaps, other runners to try to leave.
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