Another day, another challenge… This time, no road 🤔 Hope it’s finished in time! 😋 #TDF #recon @LeTour pic.twitter.com/ReuW9DpOKG
Chris Froome, Twitter (June 17th 2016)
Chris Froome’s reconnaissance of the Col de Joux Plane on Wednesday was disrupted when part of the road was missing. Froome and teammates Mikel Nieve, Wout Poels, and Mikel Landa had to get off and carry their bikes past the works.
Work was already under way on the road up to the Col de Joux Plane when SpeedyHedgehog checked out the route in early May, but the road wasn’t closed. CyclingNews says that heavy rains in (late?) May caused the damage now being repaired.
Froome’s tweet says he hopes the road will be ready for the Tour de France. However, Stage 20 has been chosen for the Etape du Tour, so 15,000 amateur riders will be hoping that it’s ready by 10th July 2016.
The Col de Joux Plane could be crucial, as it’s the final climb on Stage 20. It’s followed by a descent to Morzine; after that, the General Classification is unlikely to change, since only the final, processional stage to Paris remains.
Climb of the Col de Joux Plane
Cyclist on the climb to the Col de Joux Plane