Après le contre-la-montre hier, Tiesj Benoot et Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) ont effectué quelques kilomètres de "gravel". Pour rappel, la 9e étape du Tour de France demain sera celle des chemins blancs, autour de Troyes. #TDF2024
"If Tadej Pogacar or Jonas Vingegaard crash, it would be a big loss" - Matej Mohoric sends warning to Tour de France organisers ahead of gravel stage
CyclingSaturday, 06 July 2024 at 17:00
Sunday's stage 9 of the 2024 Tour de France brings the first week of racing to a close in an intriguing and somewhat controversial manner as the peloton is tasked with a day highlighted by a number of gravel sectors around Troyes.
Whilst the day is likely to be great viewing for spectators of the world's biggest bike race, a question lingers. At what cost will the entertainment come? The current gravel world champion, Matej Mohoric will start as one of the favourites for the stage win on Sunday. Even the Slovenian isn't totally convinced such a stage has its place at the Tour de France however.
“Accidents can happen very quickly, and this can shape the race. So if Tadej Pogacar or Jonas Vingegaard would crash, it would probably be a big loss for the Tour de France, but the organizers decided to include it,” the Bahrain - Victorious rider assesses in conversation with Velo. “The gravel itself is pretty compacted and not too bad. I don’t think it will be too selective. The most limiting factor is that it is narrow. The gravel itself is quite fast.”
As mentioned, Mohoric took the gravel world title in 2023 and as such, will start as one of the pre-stage favourites. A former three time Tour de France stage winner, the 29-year-old also knows how to get it done in the Grand Tour. He won't however, be able to wear his Rainbow Jersey. “It’s up to the organizers to decide. We are here to entertain people and I think that stage will be one of the most-watched stages of the Tour,” Mohoric says. “It must be frustrating for the GC riders to see a stage like this in the Tour because they would like to fight it out in the mountains. We know well in advance, so we have plenty of time to prepare for it.”
“I don’t think we’ll be running any special tires or wheels. Our road setup will be fastest on the course. The gravel is really nice and quite smooth. It’s not like it’s Paris-Roubaix cobbles," the Slovenian concludes. “Personally, I see it as a big opportunity. I have nothing to lose. I also don’t believe it will be selective enough for me to make a difference.”
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