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On Wednesday, the riders celebrated the summits. Thursday, return to the mainland and flat. On 171 km, between Trie-sur-Baïse and Pau, two small ribs of fourth category make pale face to the pbades of Peyresourde or Portet, programmed the day before.
After the very hard day of Portet, the men of the plain find less hostile terrain through the vineyards of Madiran (km 56). The 171-kilometer course has some roughness: two fourth-clbad ribs, the first at Madiran, the second at the entrance of the last 20 kilometers. But sprinters are entitled to hope for victory. The finish is scheduled in Pau, in the city center (Verdun Square), at the end of a straight line of 550 meters, favorable to sprinters.
After three weeks of racing, the Tour riders are blunted. Arnaud Démare spent the last two days in front of the broom-wagon and the other sprinters could lose teammates and energy in the mountains. A good opportunity for the fighters to try to impose themselves by taking the good break.
Traditional halt of the Great Loop, because it is located at a strategic place at the foot of the Pyrenees and has the necessary hotel infrastructures, Pau hosts the race for the 70th time. Only Bordeaux (80 times) received the Tour more often, outside Paris, which has always been the city of arrival. Pierrick Fédrigo (2010, 2012) and the German Marcel Kittel (2017) are the last winners in the city of the good king Henri IV, today strong of 77.000 inhabitants
1 – Geraint THOMAS (GBR / SKY) – in 68: 12'01 ''
2 – Tom DUMOULIN (PBS / SUN) – at 1 '59' '
3 – Chris FROOME (GBR / SKY) – at 2'31 ''
4 – Primoz ROGLIC (SLO / TLJ) – at 2'47 ''
5 – Nairo QUINTANA (COL / MOV) – at 3'30 ''
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Green Jersey : Peter SAGAN (SVK / BOR)
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Jersey with polka dots: Julian ALAPHILIPPE (FRA / QST)
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White jersey: Pierre LATOUR (FRA / ALM)
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TV schedules
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On France Televisions : on France 3 at 13:30 then on France 2 at 15 hours. Followed by Vélo Club at 18h00
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On Eurosport : at 1:50 pm on Eurosport 1. Followed by the Pedal Kings at 5:45 pm
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