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“Saturday, 22 July On the last mountain stage of the Tour de France, the riders ride through the Vosges. The finish is the ski station Le Markstein after six climbs and only 133.4 kilometres. Belfort has hosted the Tour many times, usually as the starting point. In 2019, the stage went to Chalon-sur-Saône, where Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to victory. This time, the sprinters know they have no chance of winning the day when they pedal into Belfort. Through a whole series of climbs in the first 80 kilometres, the Tour moves into a promising finale. One after the other, the riders cross the Ballon d'Alsace (11.5 kilometres at 5.2%), the Col de la Croix des Moinats (5.2 kilometres at 7%), the Col de Grosse-Pierre (3.2 kilometres at 8%), the Col des Feignes (5.1 kilometres at 2.5%, uncategorised) and the Col de la Schlucht (4.3 kilometres at 5.4%) before setting off on the 18-kilometre descent to Munster, the town of the cheese of the same name. On the last 35 kilometres, the riders get the Petit Ballon (9.3 kilometres at 8.1%) and the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1 kilometres at 8.3%) in front of their wheels, after which it's another 8 kilometres. The first half is hilly, the second half is pretty flat. Le Markstein has been part of the Tour de France twice before - in 2014 and 2019 - but has never been a finish of the world's biggest cycling race. However, the Tour de France Femmes ended there. Last year, Annemiek van Vleuten made a bid for overall victory with a convincing solo win in Le Markstein.“ ( & Routes 'n' Maps 'n' Flags) Creating cycling stage animations requires a lot of work and computing power. You are welcome to support me with a donation:
