Stage 8 may not have included the same type of spectacularly close finish as Stage 7, but it did mark the first stage victory by a Frenchman so far in 2014, with Blel Kadri taking the stage in three hours, 49 minutes and 29 seconds to put himself in eighth place overall.
Tour de France 2014, Stage 9: Route, TV schedule and more
The ninth stage of the 2014 Tour de France is set for Sunday with six ascents, including three stage three climbs.
Bryn Lennon
Sunday’s Stage 9 run -- the second of three in the Vosges mountains -- will be significantly more difficult, starting with a stage two climb in Gerardmer, followed by two stage three climbs, another stage two climb, and a stage one climb followed immediately by a final stage three climb before a rapid decline into Mulhouse to finish the stage. With former two-time champion Alberto Contador positioning himself for a major move yesterday, Sunday may just be his time to finally push past overall leader -- Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali -- before Monday’s excruciating finish up the mountains.
Here’s a look at the route, via the Tour’s website:
And here’s a look at the six ascents the cyclists Sunday will face in preparation for Monday’s seven-peak stage:
The Tour will be broadcast on NBCSN at 8 a.m. ET, and be replayed at 12:00 p.m, 3 p.m., 8 p.m and midnight.
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