The classic riders are in demand!
After the first rest day of the Tour of France, the peloton is challenged in the 10th stage of the Tour de France. Tips and odds are available from the betting database. Jonas Vingegaard is still in the lead in the overall classification. However, in the latest stage up to the Puy de Dôme, he again lost time to his biggest rivals, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
Now, however, the focus is less on the two top riders in the fight for the “Maillot Jaune”. Instead, the course profile is more geared towards the pros who are comfortable in the spring classics like Liège-Bastogne-Liège in Wallonia. For this reason, representatives from this circle also take front places in the 10th stage of the Tour de France odds.
While at least “Pogi” can also be counted among this circle with victories like in this year’s Tour of Flanders, he naturally has the overall classification in mind first and foremost at the Tour, which is why he will probably keep a low profile in the competition for the stage win.
The route of stage 10 at the 2023 Tour de France
Today the riders will start in the “European Volcanism Park” and it remains to be seen which pros will be particularly inspired by the fiery theme of the opening location on the subsequent route. First of all, the riders will be glad that they will pass the Puy de Dôme this time, after it had to be conquered in an exhausting way before the rest day.
Instead, easier tasks await the peloton on the tenth stage, with second and third category mountains. However, there are five such classifications across the Massif Central before the finish in Issoire.
There is no shortage of altitude metres
With this in mind, the 10th stage of the TDF can nevertheless be considered challenging. In this context, the Col de la Croix with about 1,450 metres has to be highlighted. In total, the peloton has to master more than 3,100 metres of altitude.
With its hilly profile, as mentioned at the beginning, the 10th stage of the Tour de France offers tips to riders who also feel comfortable in classics. Such “puncheurs” include, for example, two-time French road world champion Julian Alaphilippe or Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel.
A repeat of a solo success in Issoire?
A breakaway group or possibly a solo by a pro can be expected to win the stage. In the only finale in Issoire so far in the history of the Tour de France in 1983, the latter scenario was observed. At that time, Frenchman Pierre Le Bigaut rode alone for almost 100 kilometres to win the stage in the finish town in the Auvergne region!
10th stage Tour de France tip
In the 10th stage of the TDF 2023, tips and odds on a podium finish by Wout van Aert seem promising. The Belgian likes the undulating course profile and last Saturday he was already third on the podium in the section to Limoges. With better tactics in the sprint to the finish, more would have been possible.
Furthermore, the 28-year-old knows his way around stage wins in the Tour. Wout van Aert has already won nine stages in the course of his career. Last year, the rider from Jumbo-Visma won the “Green Jersey”.
On top, he took home the “red back number”, which is awarded to the most combative rider in the Tour de France. Since 1974, when cycling legend Eddy Merckx received this award, no Belgian rider had been able to win it for himself!
Wout van Aert could easily follow possible breakaway groups and would have good chances within them at the end, as the winner of the road race of the 2021 Olympic Games also has enough quality for possible finish sprints. This suggests at least another top-3 finish by the pro from Herentals.
