A small digression into language inspired by today’s so-called “Queen Stage” of the Tour de France. There are many French words that are used in English coverage of the sport, terms like maillot jaune, flamme rouge or rouleur usually don’t require translation. But there are a few French words that are “false friends”, they’re French words used in English but not used in French coverage of the sport.
The Tour de France’s only high altitude stage, today sees the race climb Col de la Loze for the very first time. It’s the strangest of climbs, a cycle path that feels like a roller coaster ride.
The Col de la Loze is the newest paved climb in the Alps and the high point of the 2020 Tour de France. It’s also a confounding climb and the world’s most sporty cycle path.
A stage to the Vercors range in the Alps, breakaway country and a scenic stage from start to finish.
A hard day in the mountains, today’s profile has y-axis of evil with three steep climbs and they’re very different from what’s come before in the Tour, these are much longer duration climbs.
The third of three stages suitable for the breakaway, today’s course is the most accessible to riders, many will have marked today’s stage as their big chance.
A hilly day along the chain of volcanoes in the Auvergne region before a sharp summit finish.
The longest stage of the race and a surprisingly hard one too, this is also the vintage stage that will pay tribute to days past.
A likely sprint stage, the last until the race turns its back on the Alps, but with some obstacles in the final kilometres, a narrow road and a small climb. Before that the intermediate sprint comes soon after some climbs, a chance to spice up the green jersey competition.
“Remember the name, the Suc au May” said Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme when the route of the 2020 edition was unveiled last October.
Here’s a refresher of the climb on the route of Stage 12 of the 2020 Tour de France, this climb might shape the stage result but has a place in cycling’s history as a focal point of cycling’s supposed “golden age”, an era when the likes of Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault all made their way to an isolated village in central France to be roared on by tens of thousands of spectators.