The Tour de France presents a high-risk final Saturday on Saturday for those who are vying for the yellow jersey.
The route of 202.2 kilometers, which runs from Roskilde (the former capital of Denmark between the 10th and the 15th centuries), starts well before this point. It winds around the coast, sometimes near the ocean, many times. There are breaks and stops in the peloton as long as there is wind. The wind blows along the coast, without any natural shelter.
Stage 2 map
Director of a thrilling final, Thierry Gouvenou warns that “the peloton could be dispersed before even crossing the bridge.”
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, says that while there are few hills in Denmark, there are many hills in France. We descend north-south to find bridges, then we turn west. So, no matter what direction the wind is, at some point it will always be three-quarters.
The race approaches its conclusion and passes by the inlet that separates two main Danish islands (Seeland & Funen). This important road axis was built nearly a quarter century ago and is extremely blocked for the Tour.
The finish line, which is only 3 km, comes at the end of the 18-kilometer journey that was promised to be a complete commitment. Gouvenou warns, “If we leave behind, there won’t be time to organize and attempt to come back.”
THE NUMBER: 18
The length of the Great Belt double-bridge, which connects two of Denmark’s largest islands, Seeland & Funen, is approximately 1.2 km.
