The Alps will decide the Tour: Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome will battle it out in the Croix de Fer and Alpe d'Huez.
No more "favorable terrain" remains. "We will try" or "We'll do our best" are no longer enough. It's over: only 110 kilometers and two climbs of special category remain, the long Croix de Fer (29 km at 5.3%) and the legendary Alpe d'Huez, with its 21 turns and demanding 13.8 km at an average gradient of 8.1%. The Croix de Fer replaced the Galibier, originally planned, due to landslides. Christophe Riblon, in 2013, was the last to inscribe his name on the list.
Nicolas Portal, Sky's director, expands on the strategy: "Froomey has quite an advantage, so we will play with the time, no foolishness that could cost the jersey. We will focus on Nairo. If Nibali or Contador attack, Movistar must react. If not, we will set our own pace." Geraint Thomas, who was in fourth place, gave way yesterday: "He felt steady in the past few days, but he will give it his all in Alpe d'Huez, like the rest of the Sky team." Like Froome and Nairo for the yellow jersey. Like Valverde, Nibali, and Contador for the podium.
