‘Like having to ride the Koppenberg’ – Riders, teams criticise unexpected route on Tour de France gravel stage

As is always the case when a Grand Tour incorporates ‘off-road’ sectors into its parcours, opinion on the gravel-heavy stage 9 of the Tour de France in Troyes has been mixed.

The race has memorably visited the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix in the past and has also included gravel roads at the Plateau des Glières, too. Sunday’s stage was the biggest day of gravel roads yet at the race, however.