Tour peloton leaves mountains behind
The mountains are over for the riders in the Tour de France. The nineteenth stage, over 188 kilometers from Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors, has two climbs of the fourth category, but seems designed to give the sprinters another chance. The men at the top of the standings hope to recover from the efforts in the Pyrenees and to save themselves for Saturday’s long individual time trial.
The tension for that race against the clock has largely been removed now that Jumbo-Visma’s Dane Jonas Vingegaard has almost certainly taken a decisive lead over Tadej Pogacar. Two years ago, the Slovenian took the yellow card from his compatriot Primoz Roglic, then the leader of the Dutch team, on the penultimate day. He doesn’t believe in such a scenario anymore now that the difference is 3.26 minutes.
The start of the ride is just after 1:00 PM, after which it heads north to Cahors. The town in the Lot valley had been visited three times before, once as a finish. In 1994 the Frenchman Jacky Durant won a Tour stage. Depending on the eagerness with which the race is still underway, the arrival is between 5.15 pm and 5.45 pm.