Le Tour finally reaches the Alps

There’s something magical about the Alps. The Pyrenees are spectacular too, but there is something extra special about the majestic French Alps, and the peloton’s visit there this year didn’t disappoint.

The big climbs included the Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine, and Col de la Loze on Stage 18 (a total of 5,450 metres) and La Plagne as a hilltop finish on Stage 19 (a total of 4,550 metres).

On Stage 18, Aussie Ben O’Connor gave us our first Australian stage victory for this year’s tour, finishing in emphatic style on La Plagne.

In comparison, the shortened Stage 19 was an anticlimax for Aussies when Dutchman Thymen Arensman took honours. I’m sure his team was delighted with the 25-year-old’s second stage victory in this year’s Tour.

Then on Stage 20, no longer in the Alps but definitely worthy of mention here, Aussie sprint star Kaden Groves took line honours, and he didn’t have to sprint for it. He broke away from his companions 17km out and soloed to the victory.

Here are some photo highlights for the three stages from Sirotti and the A.S.O.

A big thanks to Gradient Blue, our media partner for the Alps stage of the Tour de France. Gradient Blue Tours takes you to some of the world’s best rides, including climbs that often star in the Tour de France.