TOPS
Rodriguez, the masterful double blow of Ineos. After the success of the Polish Michal Kwiatkowski at the top of the Grand Colombier (13th stage, Friday), the Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez skillfully maneuvered, took advantage of the ruthless marking observed by Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar to spin just before the descent of the Col de Joux Plane, 12 km from the finish, and dive towards victory in Morzine, this Saturday (14th stage). He climbed to 3rd place in the general classification (4’43” behind Jonas Vingegaard). One second ahead of Australian Jay Hindley.
The unbreathable Vingegaard-Pogacar duel. Danish and Slovenian are inseparable. The Jumbo-Visma team did everything to test Pogacar and its UAE Team Emirates formation. At the end of a trying day, marked by falls and abandonments, Pogacar attacked 4.6 km from the top of the Col de Joux Plane, the last difficulty of the day. Unhooked Vingegaard is, with composure, returned meter after meter. To take the lead at the top of the pass, pocket the bonuses, reinflated with confidence. At the end of another crazy day (Pogacar took 2nd place in the stage, Vingegaard 3rd), Jonas Vingegaard took 1 second from his rival. He dominates the general classification with a 10” lead over the Slovenian. A breath.
Yates, the last man. In the last difficulty, Jonas Vingegaard was able to rely on the work of Sepp Kuss for a long time (after Van Aert, author of an incredible acceleration after having put away or Keldermann). Tadej Pogacar could count on Maljka, Grosschartner and Yates, the last relay. Adam Yates, solid. Still placed in the general classification (5th at 5’20” from Vingegaard).
Thibaut Pinot, desire was not enough. On the attack in the 12th stage (6th), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) was still one of the riders most eager to post in a breakaway. At work in the Col du Feu (3rd of the 6 difficulties of the day), the Franc-Comtois quickly understood that the Jumbo-Visma formation would not allow the breakaways the slightest freedom.
FLOPS
David Gaudu, the end of the dream. Exhausted at the top of the Grand Colombier, David Gaudu had given his all but (again) showed his limits. The stage leading, this Saturday, to Morzine, supported where it hurt (very) badly. The Breton climber finished very late (11th at 5’57” from Rodriguez). Accompanied by Guillaume Martin (10th). Far from the ambitions that dressed him in Bilbao at the start of the Tour de France, he slipped to 10th place in the general classification (12’56” from Jonas Vingegaard).
Jai Hindley, the worst shot. The Australian was the third man. Since his stage victory at Laruns (5th day) and his day in yellow, the leader of the Bora-Hansgrohe team had stalled in 3rd place in the general classification. In the Col de Joux Plane, he was left behind. And saw Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos), one of his main rivals for a place on the podium on the Champs-Elysées resist and escape. He hung on, finished 6th at 1’46” from Rodriguez who pilfered his 3rd place in the general classification for a second.
Motorcycles blocking. At the heart of the standoff in the climb of Joux Plane, Tadej Pogacar who had just started his sprint for the improved passage at the top of the pass when he found himself blocked by two motorcycles, one from television, one reserved for a photographer. The passage was narrow, the crowd dense, the tension immense, but the two motorcycles in front blocked the road. And Pogacar could not let go of his effort.
