TOPS
Philipsen with brilliance. Deprived of the support of Mathieu van der Poel, passed less than 3 km from the finish, Jasper Philipsen was able to maneuver with skill to let his confidence and his power speak for themselves. At Moulins (finish of the 11th stage), he beat the Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco), the German Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis). After Bayonne (3rd stage), Nogaro (4th stage) and Bordeaux (7th stage), the Belgian who had finished 2nd in Limoges (8th stage; preceded by Mads Pedersen) regained his hold on the sprint. As a real goalscorer, he won 4 of the 5 sprints contested on this Tour.
Oss, the last brave. The Italian Daniel Oss (TotalEnergies) who had, in the company of Matis Louvel (Arkea-Samsic), joined the Costa Rican Andrey Amador (EF Education) in the 4th km, who left as soon as the flag was lowered, was the last fugitive from the long breakaway who has never had much freedom to dream. He was caught 13 km from the finish (after having spent 162 km at the head of the race). Awarded the Fighting Spirit Award.
Bryan Coquard, always placed. The sprinter from the Cofidis team, 4th at Moulins, plays regularly among the sprint arrows (10th at Bayonne; 4th at Nogaro; 8th at Bordeaux; 6th at Limoges). He points to second place in the ranking of the green dominated by the insatiable Jasper Philipsen who has 145 points ahead.
FLOPS
Van der Poel pitcher exceeded. The solid Belgian had been the key to Jasper Philipsen’s success (3 stage wins) since the start of the Tour. Having a cold or anxious to save himself for the difficulties to come (from this Thursday towards Belleville-en-Beaujolais?) he did not propel his teammate towards the finish line. But Philipsen was able to manage on his own…
Biniam Girmay behind. The Eritrean who had grabbed a promising 3rd place in Bordeaux (7th stage) was the trump card of the Intermarché-Circus-Wanty team. Adrien Petit, his launcher, believed in it. Overtaken, he could not do better than 13th.
Caleb Ewan walks away. The little Australian, in legs at the start of the Tour (3rd in Bayonne; 2nd in Nogaro), slipped in the hierarchy of sprinters. Surprised by a stormy, overwhelmed sprint, he had to settle for 15th place, just ahead of Fabio Jakobsen who, since his fall in Nogaro, has not managed to shine in the sprints.
