The high mountains return to the 2023 Tour de France. In stage 13, the peloton will have to cover 138 kilometers between Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne and Grand Colombier, a summit of the Jura massif located at an altitude of 1,498 metres. The whole day is designed for the final fireworks.
The Grand Colombier promises a lot of fight for the cyclists in the general classification. This ascent usually places each one at the maximum of their power, as Pogacar demonstrated three years ago, winner of the only stage that has finished at that top so far.
On that occasion, the Slovenian surpassed his compatriot Primoz Roglic, who kept the yellow, but the rise served to rule out the defending champion, the Colombian Egan Bernal, from the fight for the yellow.
"I'm looking forward to going back," Pogacar has come to assure, second overall, 17 seconds behind the leader. The UAE runner has good memories of the Grand Colombier and hopes to take advantage of his explosiveness again to deliver a third blow to Vingegaard.
The Grand Colombier will be the aperitif of an intense weekend. On Saturday, three 'firsts' will be promoted before the Joux Plane, in a special category, whose summit is 12 kilometers from the finish line in Morzine. On Sunday the arrival will be in the port of Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, first class.
Stage 13 of the Tour de France between Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne and Grand Colombier (138 kilometers) will start this Friday, July 14, at 1:45 p.m. The conference can be seen on television on RTVE and can also be followed live on the La Vanguardia website.
