The Tour de France enters what we can sufficiently call the “home stretch” on Sunday with Stage 15’s showcase of the Jura Massif. The stage should be an important one, with six climbs that are rated at least Category 3, and three that are rated at least Category 1. Has Chris Froome won this year’s Tour de France? Probably. Are there stages left where his legs could literally explode? Oh god yes, and this is one.
Tour de France 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and route for Stage 15
If Chris Froome is going to lose the yellow jersey, his rivals -- *cough* Nairo Quintana -- will need to start taking time from him starting Sunday, when the Tour de France enters the Alps.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Stage 15 will run 160 kilometers from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz, beginning at 7:05 a.m. ET. NBCSN will begin its broadcast at 6:30 a.m. Streaming will begin at 6:50 a.m. for those who have a subscription to NBC Sports Gold.
Froome has been the best thing about the first two-thirds of the Tour, and with a 1’47” lead over second place Bauke Mollema, he’ll be hard to catch atop the general classification. The Alps are a distinct phase of the race, however, with longer, more frequent climbs to deal with. The Tour has been getting gradually more difficult from the beginning, and starting Sunday, Froome will be tested in a way he has yet to be tested: With constant pressure.
Froome has looked unbeatable in every regard so far, but a year ago he gave up a lot of time to Nairo Quintana in the Alps, almost losing what was then an even bigger margin than he has right now. Quintana, though he sits in fourth currently, is perhaps the only extant threat to Froome, because we know this was the week Quintana was planning to attack, anyway. The Colombian’s outright assault likely starts in the Jura.
This is a must-watch stage, and depending on what happens it could be the last must-watch stage before the Tour becomes a formality. Quintana and company are up against it, with nothing left to do except flail and claw if they think they still have a chance at the yellow jersey. Froome has snuffed every dream his rivals have had until now. He’s either a maestro, or -- as many hope, probably futilely -- a burned out match.
Stage route
Profile
Map and profile courtesy of the Tour’s official site.
Tour de France coverage for Stage 15 on Sunday
Start time: 7:05 a.m. ET (approx.)
Route: 160 kilometers from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz
TV: NBCSN, beginning at 6:30 a.m.
Streaming: NBC Sports Gold (subscription required), beginning at 6:50 a.m.
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