What can we expect from the second week of the Tour de France?

He Tour This Monday we will have our first day of rest after a bright start marked by cockfights in the general classification. Just over a minute separates Tadej Pogacarleader of the classification, Remco Evenepoel and from Jonas Wingegaard and during the first nine stages they all already revealed their cards. Pogacar and Evenepoel They ran aggressively, attacked and tried to take away as much time as possible from their opponents. He was more conservative Wingegaardwho saved the first week with honor, thus dispelling the doubts with which he arrived after a serious fall on Itzulia. His form is expected to improve as time goes on, although his performance Pogachar last year. The UAE leader arrived just in time for the 2023 Tour as a result of a fall and crashed in the majestic Col de la Loze.

The second week should clarify whether the Danes will leave more or less, and also clarify the role they will play. Primoz Roglič

And Carlos RodriguezRed Bull Bora and Ineos leaders must step up if they want to be considered candidates for the yellow jersey. Roglik He is 1ft 36in behind the leader and although he leaves more doubt in the mountains, he has the advantage in the final time trial. RodriguezFor its part, it is located 2 feet 31 inches from Pogacar, but there are many kilometers of mountains ahead.

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Design of this Tour de Francemarked with a sign Olympic Gameswe are expecting a very tough final stretch and a time trial as the last stage, which is expected to be decisive. For this reason, in the second week, the contenders for the final victory will not be able to burn all their ships. A week with three flat stages and three mountain stages with two high finishes.

The miles on foot are already starting to weigh on us, a circumstance that leak detection specialists hope to exploit to achieve victory on the stage. The fact that the teams sprinterswho will have a few more opportunities from there to the end. It’s the turn of the cyclists, as Matej Mohoric, Magnus Cort or Oyer Lazcanowho have that ‘punch’ needed to get into the breakaway and later hold their own against the peloton.

Intermarché-Vanti He will try to control the race to give a better chance of victory to Biniam Girmay, the winner of two stages and currently the most dominant cyclist in sprint finishes. He Alpesin-Decenink He will be looking to break his winning record and will be able to do so with the help of Jasper Philipsen that despite not being at his best, he has twice finished second or missed out Mathieu van der Poel on some kind of vacation.

The mountain is gaining strength

On Wednesday, the peloton faces a stage between Evaux-les-Bains and Le Lioran with six or more climbs The difference in altitude is 4300 meters. We will have to see if the men in the general classification want to fight for the win or if we are living in two different races; one for the stage win and one for the differences in the general classification.

But it will be the weekend when the moment of truth arrives. Two high finishes that will put everyone in their place. On Saturday, the dreaded final link with Tourmalet

Urquette d’Ancizan and Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet. The following day, four first-class ports and Plateau de Beilleout of the category, like the final fireworks. An all-out fight between the strongest people in the race with UAE who will be looking to impose their dominance as the road steepens thanks to the work of Adam Yates, Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso. Evenepoel and Vingegaard, more vulnerable in the mountains, will be waiting for Pogacar to show the wear and tear of the Giro and show some weakness to try and iron out the shortcomings ahead of the second rest day next Monday.