A tricky tour descent is imminent: huge Ski World Cup mats are only used on one turn

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Those responsible for the tour could have finished the 17th stage of the Tour de France up to Courchevel on Wednesday after 140 km and a final ascent in the winter sports resort. Instead, an additional loop leads over the steep Col de la Loze (2304 meters above sea level) and a long descent back to Courchevel airport. The spectacle has its price: the descent is considered particularly risky.

It is one of the two stages of this year’s Tour where the cycling world holds its breath for a very long time. After the tragic fall of Gino Mäder († 26) on the Albula descent a month ago in the Tour de Suisse, everyone has been warned. Also those responsible for the tour, who have announced additional security measures prior to the tour. What do these look like in detail?

The great innovation is an isolated case

What is special is that the huge safety mats from the Ski World Cup are now used. Tour director Christian Prudhomme (62) made that promise two and a half weeks ago. It now appears that the approximately 30 meters long padding will only be installed in a specific place: “One corner will be equipped with these World Cup safety mats, the most dangerous of them all,” confirms Tour Communication’s Pierre Muglach on Blick.

Is that enough? Additional measures are also being taken. Unlike the World Cup mats, these were already visible on the 14th stage on Saturday. The tour turned their words into action. Warning signals sounded and it flashed along the road. Red and white cladding protected dangerous spots and the signs with digital, flashing arrows for some corners were also unusual in cycling.

Most accidents happen in the end

Although stage winner Carlos Rodriguez (22) plunged into the valley at great risk on Saturday and the two dominators, leader Jonas Vingegaard (26) and Tadej Pogacar (24), followed close behind, the battle remained unscathed on Saturday.

Descents at the end of stages are considered particularly dangerous as they are even more decisive than in other stages. In general: “42 percent of crashes happen in the last 20 kilometers of a stage,” ex-pro Michael Rogers (43) said at the announcement of the measures for the tour and at the launch of the “SafeR” safety program. that will be fully effective by 2025.

Source : Blick