Although the 19th stage started in glorious sunshine, some teams were preparing for a particularly wet stage finale - and they were proved right. Team Tudor even fitted three riders with special tyres.
We had noticed the tyre because it had a newer Schwalbe logo and the distinctive blue stripe was missing. "It's a special rubber compound for wet roads," explained a mechanic when we asked. The tyre, also labelled with the model name Pro One, is said to have a slightly higher rolling resistance, but offers significantly more grip.
"We fit it for riders who feel unsafe in the wet and want more grip," the team representative continued. However, we were unable to find out whether the tyre will be available to buy in the future.
Dutch rider Thymen Arensman narrowly won the 19th stage. At the mountain arrival in La Plagne, the overall favourites crossed the finish line just two seconds behind him. Just a few metres before the finish, Florian Lipowitz, who arrived a short time later, made the German fans' hearts stand still once again. Lipowitz, presumably riding without rain tyres, slipped on the road with his rear wheel and only just managed to avoid a crash.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
