Bluegrass Endurance: 2025 Tour de France Stage 10 Thoughts - Would There Be Fireworks

Stage 10 - Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore PuyDe Sancy - 165.3K (4450m Vert) - Mtn

With the first climb early as with the sprint figured they would either not let anyone go, or, more than likely they would let a break go if no threats in there and people from the big teams in there. Well who did we see up front but Quinn Simmons - no surprise there. Once the break stabilized there were quite a few in it, 29 riders, including 2 Visma riders (Yates and Campenaerts) who could play a big part later, also had 4 EF guys including Healy and Powless. While quite a few teams represented but one team not there was UAE and figured that it was better to have them around Tadej rather than having a satellite rider up the road, remember a key person on their team - Joao Almeida - was out of the TdF. Even with the break out there they did not give them much of a leash with only a gap of about a minute with 14.5K to the sprint and some lumpy stuff first. So the sprinter teams could up the pace for the sprint so it was still very interesting as the break was not for certain yet. I say that then looked at the live map and the sprinters were down almost 3 minutes and with no respite not sure they will see the front anytime soon.

UAE was keeping the gap to the break small and looked like Tadej was using the riders he had early as probably knows he will have to do it mostly himself later. The more the climbs pass the more exciting it could, I say could, get as with such a small gap being allowed who was going to put the hurt on first. Visma seemed to intimate they were going to be aggressive but it sorta looked like UAE was dissuading that with keeping the pace up.

As the front group breaks up there forms a good group with - you guessed it - Quinn Simmons and also Ben Healy and others. This was a strong group that while maybe not being able to stay away for the day but Lenny Martinez could pick up points for the polkadot jersey, which he got, which he was now virtually wearing. So over the top of the third climb they had a 3:15 lead with 5 more climbs to go.

With 21 stages in the tour and this being stage 10 the tour is almost 1/2 over and there has been no rest day yet. On top of that if there was a prize for the most aggressive rider for the first half it would need to be Quinn Simmons - I can't remember if it was the Giro or Vuelta but they had a jersey for the person with the most kilometers in the front and if that jersey was here pretty sure Quinn would be wearing it.

At the top of the 5th climb, 50K to go, the group had a gap to the peloton of just under 5:00 with the main guys still in it and with 3 more climbs to come - 1 Cat 3 and 2 Cat 2's with one being the last climb to the finish. With Healy in the group he is in the virtual Yellow Jersey by just over a minute but really not an issue long term. Let alone when Tadej, Vingegaard and maybe Remco go that lead could have evaporated quickly.

It did seem clear that Quinn had designs himself on this stage as he kept the pace high heading to the 6th climb but then so did it look like Healy wanted a win as well putting in his own digs but no one was letting him go and keeping the gap to the peloton at 5:00. Have to say going up climb 6 Quinn looked really good and in control. Simon Yates was in the break and up near the front but did not think he would push it but was there if and when Jonas came forward. To be honest would be good to see Quinn and Ben go off the front with Quinn getting the win and Ben the Yellow. That said with only a minute up on the virtual jersey I did not think Ben could get it as back in the peloton even if they did not chase for the win there was going to be an upping of tempo just with the fight between the big three. Well that is what I thought:)

With 27K and two climbs to go Quinn went for it and those left chased with Healy doing the main chasing. Quinn got 7seconds but no more and by 24.5K the remainder back on him. If not for Healy I am not sure they would have bridged. Back in the peloton the gap was still big at 5:46 but among them the race was on with Visma at the front. Good part on climbs and this close to the finish Tadej could handle this but UAE still had a couple there but not for long. No real reason for Tadej to pull, or chase, unless Mateo or Jonas went off the front and it seemed Joans did not want to play as well. Was shaping up to be two races - one for the win and the other for GC and the race for GC seemed likely to seal the fate of Healy to get yellow with his slim virtual lead and the big three maybe wanting the upper hand..

With 15K to go seemed clear the break was going to stay away but would Healy get the jersey but, again, seemed unlikely as figured the Peloton was not going to stay where it was. It was going to get fast and while unlikely to catch the breakaway they would close the gap on the last climb. Then Quinn lost the lead group with Healy pushing the pace - bummer and at least hoped maybe he could get back on but Healy was having none of it. Back in the peloton the announcers kept making note of Tadej not having the same number of guys with him that Jonas did but with so little distance to go and the climbs short not sure it mattered for Tadej.

Heading into the final 3.2k climb Yates went for it leaving Healy in some trouble but he was just trying to keep it going for the Yellow. Ben O'conner got back up to Yates and they went at it for the final 2.7K. Healy did not have much time to work with but he was still working hard to not lose sight of Yates and O'Conner. Back in the peloton it was clear it was going to come down to the final 3.2K between the big three and was going to be interesting to see if the pace would be high enough to wipe out Healy's virtual lead.

Interesting finish as while Yates crossed the line first, Arensman second and Healy third everyone was watching the main peloton with Tadej, Jonas and Remco to see if there would be gaps and if Healy could get the Yellow jersey. Initially with maybe 1.5K to go Tadej went, Remco had tried before then but other than a short lived gap it did little, and only Jonas could go with him but it appeared that once it looked like Tadej was not losing Jonas - well for the effort required - it seemed they were both good with just riding it in as the riders they had a gap open clawed back some time. For all the talk of fireworks there were really none but then when you keep the pace up and have control it sort of dissuades it.

The fact they did not hammer the last climb and work hard after the initial gap played to Healy's favor who ended up with plenty to spare to get the jersey and a lead of 00:29 on Tadej. What a ride by Ben and bummed Simmons could not hang on but pretty amazing ride considering he has been up front about every day. Next up a well deserved rest before a flat Stage 11 on Wednesday.

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