Two alpine stages in the 110th Tour de France end with a descent. The organizers have improved the safety standard in consultation with the world association and teams.
The organizers of the Tour de France have significantly increased safety measures on stages 14 and 17, which end with downhill runs. Adam Hansen, spokesman for the drivers’ union CPA, announced that the professionals will be warned acoustically before corners.
In addition, dangerous curves are secured with padded barriers. Both descents were resurfaced, which was a big request from the riders.
Dangerous descents should be prepared
The 14th stage leads in the final from the Col de Joux Plane about twelve kilometers down to Morzine. Three stages later, from the Col de la Loze, it’s another six kilometers to Courchevel.
Hansen, former teammate of four-time time trial world champion Tony Martin, wants to ski down both descents himself in the next few days and film them. The recordings should be made available to teams and drivers.
Avoid driving mistakes
At the Tour de Suisse, Gino Mäder fell in mid-June on the descent from the Albula Pass and died. According to the prevailing opinion, a driving error was fatal for the Swiss. There are no recordings or witnesses of the fall so far. In the safety debate that followed, it was also discussed whether stages had to end with descents from Alpine passes.