"Sprint competitors lament their misfortune throughout the day, finding their troubles compounded by the abrupt ending of stage 17 in the Tour de France"
Article Title: Reduced Group Sprint Likely in Tour de France 2022 Final Stage
The final stage of the Tour de France 2022, set to take place in Paris, is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, with the chances of a full bunch sprint being very low. The challenging course profile, including the Montmartre climb just 6 km from the finish, is expected to favour strong sprinters who can climb or puncheurs, making it difficult to control the race for a traditional bunch sprint.
The Montmartre climb, a natural selection point, is expected to drop pure sprinters, leaving a reduced group to contest the sprint. Riders like Meeus, Stewart, Groves, and Lund Andersen are in form and could potentially contest a sprint if they survive the climbs, indicating a possible sprint for a reduced group, not a mass bunch sprint.
The recent crashes impacting sprinters like Girmay and Askey, along with lingering fatigue of riders such as Arnaud De Lie, have further reduced the likelihood of a large fast sprint bunch. De Lie, who finished fourth in Stage 17, believes he could have had a better chance of victory if he hadn't touched Jonathan Milan's wheel during the sprint.
The final kilometers after Montmartre are technical and fast, making it difficult for dropped riders to rejoin, thus fragmenting the field and preventing the usual large peloton sprint. Race reports from similar recent editions with such climbs on the final day have indicated solo or small group breakaway wins rather than big bunch sprints.
Jonathan Milan, who won Stage 17 of the Tour de France, marking his second victory in the race, will be a strong contender for the reduced group sprint. De Lie, despite being on the right side of the crash during Stage 17, had a closer opportunity to victory than in Châteauroux (on stage nine). He remains optimistic about his chances in the final stage in Paris.
Kaden Groves, who has taken over as the sprinter for Alpecin-Deceuninck, was not directly involved in the crash but was behind riders who were sliding on the road. Tim Merlier, who has won twice in the Tour de France, was held up by the crash and expressed concern that it was his last opportunity to sprint in the Tour de France.
The weather during Stage 17 was torrential rain, which could have played a part in the crash under the flamme rouge that took out many of Milan's rivals. Biniam Girmay, last year's green jersey winner, was affected by the crash and was seen clutching his right arm as he crossed the line. His current condition is unknown.
In the points classification of the Tour de France, Milan now leads, with Milan taking over from Jasper Philipsen, a previous winner in the race, who has already departed. De Lie believes there is still a sixth and final opportunity for a sprint victory in Paris.
Despite the challenges, De Lie's faith remains in the team's form for the final stage in Paris. With the stage profile favouring a reduced group sprint or solo/attacking wins, the final stage of the Tour de France 2022 promises to be an exciting conclusion to the race.
- The challenging course profile of the Tour de France 2022 final stage, including the Montmartre climb and technical, fast final kilometers, appears to favor a reduced group sprint rather than a mass bunch sprint.
- Riders like Meeus, Stewart, Groves, and Lund Andersen, who have shown they can perform well in both sprints and climbing, could potentially contest a reduced group sprint during the Tour de France 2022 final stage.
