"I hope it will be a stage for men like Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel" - Tour de France course designer Thierry Gouvenou amidst criticism of gravel inclusion
CyclingFriday, 27 October 2023 at 17:00
Ever since the complete, stage-by-stage profile of the 2024 Tour de France was revealed on Wednesday, the talk of the cycling world has been stage 9 and the controversial inclusion of gravel.
Speaking to L'Equipe, ASO course designer responsible for working out how the Tour de France will look, Thierry Gouvenou has responded to this somewhat mixed reaction to this particular stage. “We have made the promise never to plan two sprint stages in a row again. So we had to come up with a smart way to cross the Alps," he reveals. "It's a bit like the cobblestone stage in 2010 (won by Thor Hushovd. ed.). Then it had also been 20 years since we had put cobblestones in the course."
Whilst criticism have come from such varied sources as Jumbo-Visma's Richard Plugge, Soudal - Quick-Step leader Remco Evenepoel and BORA - hansgrohe boss Ralph Denk, Gouvenou remains steadfast in his belief the stage will bring brilliant entertainment for spectators both on the roadside and watching on TV.
If a team decides to go all the way, it will be a draw. And that ribbon will eventually break. I hope it will be a stage for men like Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. I hope they will create chaos," he explains.
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- What does he need to pay Pogi to lead him out?Veganpotter04-12-2025
- Ayuso is not a surprise if you look at his previous 5yrs.Veganpotter04-12-2025
- What do you mean?BenAflec04-12-2025
- Just making the note that it’s actually closer to 120 because most of it is consumed in the first 4 hrs, not evenly across 5 hrs up until the finish.crharnishphd04-12-2025
- WVA dropped TP and his bad knee.Cyclingnut04-12-2025
- Everyone shouts "rider x" is getting better and could beat Pogacar... Tadej is still improving year on year too.....slappers6604-12-2025
- It's not a big blow for Pogacar. Today, Pogacar relies on a close, increasingly Slovenian circle of experts. Among them, the central figure is his longtime friend Ziga Jerman, who took on the role of masseur in 2025. Jerman has known Pogačar since before his global fame, when they cycled together at the Ljubljana club Rog, so Elguezabal’s departure does not pose a threat for Pogi but rather marks the end of a very successful chapter. UAE will have to fill the gap in its professional staff, but for Pogi, this departure will not play an important role.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- OK, enough of this BS. No one went to college or university from kindergarten. First, Remco must graduate from high school with excellent results to meet with the professor Pogacar in university and to be in same room with him. But you see, Pogi the Great also has a PhD (doctorate in cycling). In 2026, I want to see that success from Remco in high school, because I haven't seen it in these 7 years.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
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🔎 A look at some of the gravel roads of stage 9. Here is the Chemin de Baroville, 2nd sector of the day. 🔎 Un œil sur certains des chemins blancs au programme de l’étape 9 du #TDF2024, avec ici le Chemin de Baroville, 2eme des 14 secteurs du jour.
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