Between the Vosges and the Alps, the Tour does not take a break and heads to Switzerland with an Olympic day that ends next to the Lausanne stadium, headquarters of the IOC with a steep end conducive to attacks. The 186.3 kilometers between Dole and the Swiss city combine a simple part at the beginning that becomes more complicated as the peloton heads for Switzerlandwith two ports of fourth and one of third in the middle of a leg-breaking scenario that should favor the formation of breakaways.
After paying homage to Louis Pasteur on the bicentenary of his birth with a visit to Arbois, the platoon heads into Swiss territory to hit the roof at Col
de Pétra-Felix, before beginning the descent to Lake Leman. Next to its banks begins the final strake, classified as third category, 4.8 kilometers with an average gradient of 4.6%, but which, after a break of one kilometer in its intermediate section, reserves percentages above 12%. If the planned getaway comes with a challenge, the final victory of the day will be played there, while the favorites for the general will have to show their cards again.
Start the stage
The Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen, domestique of the UAE Emirates of the leader Tadej Pogacar, and the Frenchman of the AG2R team Geoffrey Bouchard will not take the start this Saturdayin the eighth stage of the Tour, having tested positive for covid.
Laengen tested positive on Friday night and his team has decided to withdraw him from the race. “Vegard had tested negative on Friday morning in our internal controls, but at the end of the stage he was showing symptoms that led us to carry out an antigen test. This test came out positive and was confirmed this morning (Saturday) by a PCR test,” said Adriano Rotunno, medical director of the Emirati team. Pogacar thus loses one of the runners who was supposed to protect him on the flat. Bouchard, likewise, has tested positive and his team has decided to withdraw him. “During this Friday’s stage I didn’t feel like it. It’s my first Tour and it’s a shame to have to leave my teammates and not be able to help the team”, commented the AG2R rider.
170 kilometers Italian Cattaneo leads the breakaway at the start of the race.
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