Srage 19 DS Insights Preview
đź“Ť  Stage 19 – Tour de France – Albertville → La Plagne
📏 Distance: 129.9 km
⛰️ Profile: Final Alpine Queen Stage — five major climbs & summit finish
🏞️ Climbs Overview
1. Côte d’Héry‑sur‑Ugine — Cat 2; 11.3 km @ 5.1 %, summit at 1,004 m, km 18.3
2. Col des Saisies — Cat 1; 13.7 km @ 6.4 %, summit at 1,650 m, km 35.1
3. Col du Pré — HC; 12.6 km @ 7.7 %, summit at 1,748 m, km 66
4. Cormet de Roselend — Cat 2; 5.9 km @ 6.3 %, summit at 1,968 m, km 78.5
5. La Plagne — HC summit finish; 19.1 km @ 7.2 % to 2,052 m, km 129.9
Total vertical gain: 4,500 m in just 130 km—truly alpine epic.
🧠DS Preview: Tactical Breakdown & Key Storylines
Recovery Red Alert: After yesterday’s Loze assault, riders’ legs will be taxed to the maximum. Recovery—and allocating massage wisely—will decide who survives this day-and-night onslaught.
Sticky Bottle Aftershock: Lenny Martinez lost 8 KOM points for a “sticky bottle” infraction, effectively ending his mountain jersey hopes. No margin for error now.
Yellow & Polka-Dot Strategy: Tadej Pogačar leads KOM by 105 points. With two HC climbs today, UAE have free licence to release him in the break or dominate the finale—depending on his KOM ambitions.
Breakaway Potential: A strong early move could sneak away—but the HC La Plagne summit and GC stakes will draw elite riders back if UAE or Visma commit.
Visma’s Moment: Will Jonas Vingegaard and team finally ride cohesively? No more half-hearted efforts like before. This is bread-and-butter for a full-team assault.
🏆 Standings at a Glance (Post-Stage 18):
🟡 General Classification – Top 5
1. Tadej Pogačar – UAE – leader
2. Jonas Vingegaard – +4’26″
3. Florian Lipowitz – +11’01″
4. Oscar Onley – +11’23″
5. Primoz Roglic – +12’49″
🟢 Green Jersey – Top 5
1. Jonathan Milan – 332pts
2. Tadej Pogačar – 257pts
3. Biniam Girmay – 196pts
4. Jonas Vingegaard – 165pts
5. Tim Merlier – 156pts
🔴 KOM (Polka-Dot) – Top 5
1. Tadej Pogačar – 105pts
2. Jonas Vingegaard – 89pts
3. Lenny Martinez – 72pts
4. Thymen Arensman – 65pts
5. Ben O’Connor – 51pts
🤍 White Jersey – Top 4
1. Florian Lipowitz – leader
2. Oscar Onley – +0’22″
3. Kévin Vauquelin – +5’14″
4. Ben Healy – +14’40″
👥 Team Classification – Top 3
1. Visma | Lease a Bike – leader
2. UAE Team Emirates – +14’00”
3. Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe – +1 h 03’ 46″
đź”® DS Final Take
“Stage 19 is a brutal crescendo before Paris. Five brutal climbs—punishing steepest sections, high altitude, and zero mercy. It’s about legs, lungs, and nerves. Can Visma deliver strength? Will Onley keep dreaming white? Can Pogačar conquer KOM, green, and yellow this late? Get ready – this is the race’s final battle.”
