Tour de France 2026 ***Spoilers***

[No Ta Doctor]

Both the Cat1 climbs seem a little soft to me* , but 3900m climbing total isn't to be sniffed at!

*(is there an official criteria these days? Whatever, 'snot important)

There's no set criteria. Length of climb, steepness and position in the race. A Cat 3 or 4 in the first few days probably isn't categorised in week three, and a Cat 2 at the start of the stage is more likely to be a Cat 1 if you finish on it.

 

[mididoctors]

Roll out

 

[mididoctors]

Yesterday was quite the bike race

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Head's up - earlier start today, they'll be off in a mo - PCS says 12:50 (think that's the real start)

EDIT: they're neutral roll out already ,as midi says above

 

[Alex321]

There's no set criteria. Length of climb, steepness and position in the race. A Cat 3 or 4 in the first few days probably isn't categorised in week three, and a Cat 2 at the start of the stage is more likely to be a Cat 1 if you finish on it.

This site thinks there are set criteria
https://www.elite-wheels.com/news/how-are-those-mountain-climbs-classified-in-the-tour-de-france

 

[mididoctors]

They're off

 

[No Ta Doctor]

This site thinks there are set criteria
https://www.elite-wheels.com/news/how-are-those-mountain-climbs-classified-in-the-tour-de-france

Pretty sure that's the rough guide rather than set rule though, just a few days ago we saw an uncategorised climb in the middle of the race that we all decided we'd rather not have to go up

 

[misforturob]

Fixed that for you.

One of the few things I like about Pog is that he does know the iconic value of e.g. winning in yellow on the Champs Élysées, or on the Alpe d'Huez. Asked about the Alpe he immediately mention Ventoux and the Tourmalet as comparable in iconic terms. He was first to the summit of the Tourmalet this year (it hasn't finished there since 2019, I thought it was a lot more recent!), and had to leave Ventoux to the break last year (Campenaerts pulled Vingegaard and Pogacar up it, there was a bit of headwind and Pogacar eventually mugged Jonas for two seconds, with the stage being decided about 45 seconds before)

I think it is still true that Geraint Thomas is the only MJ wearer to win on the Alpe?

 

[Blazing Saddles]

It will probably take 40 plus kms for the break to form.

 

[mididoctors]

They are hooning along lined out

 

[mididoctors]

I think it is still true that Geraint Thomas is the only MJ wearer to win on the Alpe?

That's a surprising factoid ... I thought lance did ( does that count )

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I think it is still true that Geraint Thomas is the only MJ wearer to win on the Alpe?

He's the only yellow jersey wearer to win on the Alpe. Other's took the yellow on it
Not sure about the polkadots

 

[Alex321]

Pretty sure that's the rough guide rather than set rule though, just a few days ago we saw an uncategorised climb in the middle of the race that we all decided we'd rather not have to go up

Yes, although I posted it, 'm not convinced that is really correct.

I know they tend to bump climbs up a category if they are near or at the end of a stage, and I think they will leave some that should be cat 3 or 4 uncategorised if they have a lot of categorised climbs in a stage.

 

[mididoctors]

A move has gone out to 30 secs ....

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Commentators spot on. Group let go and now EF are chasing.