"You can't win the Tour de France in a gravel stage like that, but you can lose it" - Concern within Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe ahead of stage 9

Whilst in the high mountains the strongest rider almost always prevails over their rivals, on the gravel, luck can play a massive role. Strongest rider or not, an ill-timed puncture or mechanical could see a rider's Maillot Jaune hopes at the 2024 Tour de Franc, crash and burn on stage 9.

As such, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, the team of Primoz Roglic, who currently sits 4th in the general classification at 1:36 on his compatriot and race leader, Tadej Pogacar, have shared their concerns and trepidation, heading into a day where so much could be lost.

"I don't think a gravel stage in a Grand Tour is a good idea. I'm a big fan of one-day races, especially races like Paris-Roubaix and Strade Bianche. But to apply it in such a Grand Tour goes a bit too far for me. I'm a bit sceptical about that," assesses Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's Marco Haller, in conversation with In de Leiderstrui. "You can't win the Tour de France in a gravel stage like that, but you can lose it."

"I think it's quite controversial to lose the Tour because of flat tires," Haller continues. "I'm a bit worried about that. But it can happen to anyone, right? I'd rather see it included in the classics. Most teams will dive into that gravel stage with fear, including us. Everyone will have to be fully focused. Maximum sharpness is required. From everyone. It will be a key stage anyway."

It's not only Haller who has concerns either. Both Nico Denz and Danny van Poppel are heading into the stage unsure. "Personally, I'm not really a fan of including a gravel stage in a Grand Tour. If, in our case, for example, Primoz gets a puncture, or any other GC rider for that matter, your entire general classification could be ruined," says van Poppel. "You really just have to be lucky on a gravel course like that. That factor is perhaps a bit too big. But there's not really anything you can do about it, right? In principle, they just throw it into the course and that's it . Of course, they did it in the previous Giro d'Italia. That went well in itself. It also depends a bit on how difficult the stage itself is. If it's very difficult, a group of strong men usually comes forward. Then it's a bit less risky. But if it's really flat and there are gravel sections, it becomes dangerous. A lot of guys can't do that and that could cost them their heads. That's just a shame for the Tour, I think."

"I don't think it belongs in a Grand Tour, since you work towards one goal for months. If you then drop out of the general classification, purely because you're unlucky and not because you're not strong enough, that's not fair. That's my opinion," adds Denz. "It's going to be a big stress fest. That's one thing that's for sure. Of course, we've been working on this stage for a long time. For us, the most important thing is to race defensively and especially not lose any time. So get through the day safely, so that we can then focus on the mountain stages. But we have to make do with it. There's nothing we can do about it."