Can he do it again? Like a year ago, Hugo Lapalus is in ambush for the podium as the last stage of the Tour de Ski and the dreaded ascent of Alpe Cermis (3.6 km, 12% average) loom, at the end of ‘a 10 km mass start. After six stages, Haut-Savoyard is only 15 seconds from a still very open podium. Only Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, leader with a 2’18 lead over Erik Valnes, seems certain to stay there.
Blues decimated by illness
Fifth in the general ranking, Hugo Lapalus is with Mathis Desloges (9th) the last survivor of a French team decimated by viruses. Like a good part of the peloton! “We finished the Tour in difficulty with only two athletes, but we stayed the course! », confided Saturday afternoon Alexandre Rousselet, the manager of the French team, after their 8e and 11th place in the skiathlon. “Hugo and Mathis are weakened, like many at the end of a Tour, but remain in the fight. We keep our fingers crossed that the virus spares them one more day, because the ranking can still move. »
Lapalus: “An effort that suits me”
“One minute, one minute and a half, and even two minutes, that means nothing on Alpe Cermis,” warns Maurice Manificat, consultant for Eurosport. Especially since the effort corresponds to the qualities and “featherweight” size of Hugo Lapalus, 3e of the stage last year behind Jules Lapierre and the German Friedrich Moch.
“It’s an effort that suits me so I like it,” confided Cluse on Thursday afternoon. “I prefer slopes that climb to those that are too flat, but this climb can be a double-edged sword. If you are really good, you can hurt others. If it’s you who’s in trouble, she can really pick you up…”
In detail, the third in the 2024 edition is 2’44 behind Johannes Klaebo (Nor), 26 seconds behind Erik Valnes (Nor) and 15 seconds behind Havard Moseby (Nor) and Mika Vermeulen (Aut). Only Valnes and Vermeulen were present last year and lost 58 and 11.8 seconds to the Frenchman. Everything is therefore playable, Klaebo being supposed to be inferior on this type of effort. There remains the unknown Moseby.
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On the podium and best climber?
Building on the experience acquired last year, Hugo Lapalus approached the end of the Tour de Ski with “a little more serenity. I know what needs to be done, where no time should be wasted.” That is to say Friday during the sprint (12 seconds lost) and Saturday during the skiathlon (8 seconds).
It now remains to unleash his last strength in the battle to collect a second final podium in a row and the purple jersey of best climber which he is wearing before this last meeting.
“We are gritting our teeth, we are going to try to go to the end, to keep this beautiful purple jersey at the top of Alpe Cermis and above all to seek a beautiful podium overall,” the Haut-Savoyard projected on Saturday .
“There are thirteen of us on this Tour de Ski, there are only two of us left, so there is obviously a thought for our friends and for Cyp’ (Cyprien Sarrazin) who is having a difficult time at the moment. » An additional source of motivation, if one was needed.
Morocco
