Calls the Tour de France stage life-threatening
It is less than three months until the Tour de France starts in Copenhagen. After three stages in Denmark, the circus will continue to northern France. On the 5th stage there is a finish in Arenberg. That means cobblestones.
The dreaded Arenberg forest is not on the program, but so are several other demanding cobblestone sections. Especially the second cobblestone section from Eswars to Paillencourt (1.6 km long) can be crucial.
– I’m surprised by the other section. I would never have included it if I had been a race organizer, says UAE’s sports director Aart Vierhouten to Sporza.
– The section tilts down on both sides. There are no alternative routes to the left or right. It rhymes badly with the security focus that has been put off lately, he has continued.
Reunion with Alpe d’Huez and cobblestones in the Tour de France
Vierhouten has reconnoitered the stage together with Marco Mercato and star rider Tadej Pogacar.
He fears more riders could lose the Tour de France on the first cobblestone sections.
– Everyone is full of adrenaline after the sprint towards the first section. On the last cobblestone sections there will be 40 riders together, but on the first sections the whole main field will cross. It is life threatening, he says.