You might remember Daniel Lloyd’s insightful preview videos for key stages of the Giro d’Italia.
Lloyd returns with this rider’s eye view of the seventh stage of the Tour de France, another race of which he has first hand experience.
The 199km medium mountain stage from Tomblaine to the first category summit finish at La Planche de Belles Filles, will represent the first day of serious climbing in this year’s Tour.
Lloyd predicts a change at the top of the King of the Mountains classification, citing the 20 points on offer at the end of the stage: more than the total points offered in the polka dot jersey competition from the previous six stages.
He rises from the saddle to sprint into the town of Gerardmer, foreshadowing the scramble for points in the green jersey competition that will surely mark the arrival of the riders on Saturday (7).
Lloyd then begins the third category climb of the Col de Grosse Pierre, one he doesn’t anticipate causing too many difficulties for those who contested the intermediate sprint.
A demonstration of descending technique follows as Lloyd drops into La Planche des Belles Filles, a descent the Tour riders will make at speeds of up to 75kmh.
He then tackles the final climb of the day: one of 5.9 kilometres, rising at an average gradient of 8.5 per cent to a summit finish at 1035 metres above sea level.
