Vosges Mountains Stage Set for Climbers' Showdown in Tour de France

The 14th stage of the Tour de France promises a dramatic mountain showdown as riders tackle a demanding 155.3-kilometer route from Mulhouse to the Le Markstein ski resort. This stage is tailor-made for climbers and general classification contenders, featuring a grueling 3800 meters of cumulative elevation gain across seven categorized ascents.

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The stage is written for climbers and the best cyclists in the fight for overall victory, as it brings as much as 3800 meters of elevation gain.

The stage profile includes a varied conclusion, with the final kilometers not leading directly uphill but offering a challenging, undulating terrain after the last climb. The Vosges, a mid-mountain range in northeastern France bordering Germany, will serve as the backdrop for this crucial test. The race last started in Mulhouse in 2019, ending at La Planche des Belles Filles, but this year's finish is significantly closer to the starting city, despite the lengthy, winding course.

Early challenges await the peloton, with the 21.5-kilometer climb to Grand Ballon beginning just 36 kilometers into the stage. Its long, uneven gradient will quickly reveal riders' form. Following descents, the peloton will face the relatively easier Col du Page, followed by the more demanding Ballon d’Alsace, an 8.9-kilometer climb with a 6.9% average gradient, leaving 61 kilometers to the summit.

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The first serious test will come very early. After only 36 kilometers, the peloton will tackle the climb to Grand Ballon, which measures 21.5 kilometers and has an average gradient of 4.8 percent.

The decisive moments are expected in the final section. The last climb is effectively in two parts: a four-kilometer ascent to Geishouse with a steep 9% average gradient, followed by a short descent and then a final kilometer that becomes particularly steep, reaching 9.5%. The entire climb to Col du Haag measures 11.2 kilometers with a 7.3% average gradient. After cresting the summit, riders will navigate 5.9 kilometers of varied terrain to the finish line at Le Markstein.

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The final climb actually consists of two parts. First, there is a climb towards Geishouse, four kilometers long with an average gradient of nine percent. After a short descent, the road begins to rise again, and the last kilometer before the summit becomes particularly steep, with the gradient reaching 9.5 percent.

Le Markstein holds memories of past Tour de France drama, including Tadej Pogačar's sprint victory and Jonas Vingegaard securing the overall win in 2023. While the approach to the finish differs this year, the venue remains the same, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be the first true battle among the top climbers of this year's Tour.

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The Tour de France last finished in Le Markstein in 2023. Back then, Tadej Pogačar won a small group sprint, while Jonas Vingegaard maintained his lead and secured the overall victory of the race.