"If riders with less skills try to follow, they might even go beyond their limits" - Tony Martin critical of downhill finish in fourth stage

The stage 4 of the 2024 Tour de France will lead rider to the Alps for the first time. The finish is located in Valloire, after a long and technical descent from this year's Souvenir Henri Desgrange - Col du Galibier. Cycling expert and a formerly very successful pro Tony Martin is very critical of this form of finish - especially because of the very high risk of falling.

"I still think it's very risky when you set the finishes after high, difficult mountains after a descent," says Martin at Eurosport. "The overall ranking riders in particular push themselves to the limit on the climbs, sometimes have to give 100 or 110 percent and then have to take full risks on the descent and haggle over the seconds."

"On the descent from the Col du Galibier, Briton Tom Pidcock put on a well-received show and ultimately won the stage in Alpe d'Huez. Such strong downhill riders can increase the risk for others," Martin is aware of the impact the competition can have on rider's estimation of their own limits.

"We know very strong descenders like Pidcock. If others with less skills try to follow, they might even go beyond their limits," says Martin. "That increases the risk of falling. If the line was at the top, then you could avoid that risk."  

The early timing of the Alpine stage poses further danger. "I see the danger as particularly great in the first week, as the gaps in the overall rankings are not yet that big," says Martin. Currently four riders (Carapaz, Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel) have the same time while another 19 riders are within 21 seconds of the yellow jersey as we enter mountains.