As expected the race would be quick to the sprint - unexpected was a crash at 17k that caught Jonas and Lipowitz being. So as to return the earlier favor UAE works to slow to let them work to get back on. That said the break that was forming up front kept going and bad for Milan was he was not in the group and MVDP was. To make it worse there were 15 riders in the group as no sprint points for Milan who with 1k to the sprint line was 00:34 behind. A controlled distance so once passed the peloton could catch on the first climb and others would have a chance for the win.
MVDP did have a rider in his group but it did not seem to matter as they let him roll over the land first as he moved up closer in points to get the Green Jersey. So now the question was to be what would happen behind as they were still close. Did see that Milan was having issues hanging on as the sprint was on a slight incline and with the high speeds not easy to just sit on. Was going to be a long day for Milan - he is going to want this day to be over and get rest as the rest of the course is not to his liking. Was going to be interesting as no real reason for UAE to chase and with WVA and Campenaerts in the break Visma could let it go as well and made for a strong break. Bummer for Quinn Simmons as could have been a good day for him but looks he was held back to help Milan but not sure anyone could really help Milan.
In looking at the profile of the race it was not going to be an easy day. What I did find was that the last two climbs - The Cat 3 Cote de Sores and Cat 2 Pas du Sant - show the top not really being the top as far as going up hill with the last climb a fair bit longer after the "top." The last two climbs are not mountains but still tough with the Cote de Sores being 6.2K at 5.5% average and the Pas du Sant 2.9k at 10.2% but for the last one does show 11K more to go up after what is called the top. But once they get to the actual top which is the Col de Fontbruno there is 39k pretty much all the way to the finish line.
After the sprint came the first climb of the Cat 3 Cote de Saint-Ferreol which is 1.7K at 7% with a short descent then start climb 2. The question was what did UAE and Visma want to do as letting the group go hurts no one and with WVA in the break Visma would have a good chance to win and depending on what MVDP wants to do it could be a very strong break. But as I write this the peloton who was only 28 seconds back you see Quinn attack to bridge but Tadej and Jonas was not going to have it. But there were more attacks and Quinn in them all for this first climb and the gap getting smaller. But they just cold not get across - was going to be a hard day as they start climb 2!!!!
With 81K to go and over the 2nd climb there was a group of 8 riders with a 41 second gap on 232 chasers and 2:21 on the yellow jersey peloton. Guess who was in the lead 8 - Quinn Simmons, if he keeps this up it is hard to believe that they would not vote him the most aggressive for the entire tour, but you never know with a vote and not some metric like K's in the front. Also, in the break were Powless, Wellens, Campenaerts and Rodriguez. Back in the chase gourd is MVDP & WVA so was going to be interesting to see what they do as with the last climb ending with close to 40K downhill to the finish so if they can keep it close the final could still be up for grabs. I am biased but hoping Quinn can hang in there and then slip away at the end. Did seem the Peloton was just going to take it casual as Jonas knows the finish does nto play into making a gap - barring mechanical or crash.
As they approached the top, well false top, of the last climb Quinn was still in the lead group with a 43 second gap on the first group of chasers and 4:22 on the yellow jersey group. But Tim Wellens who had to not do much all day as he was there for UAE went off to never bee sen again and take the stage win. I think Quinn just did not have it and with all he has done in the tour really understandable. Wellens slowly opened up his lead and the chase group had others working to catch on including WVA so now was a race for second. Who else was to take off but Campenaerts which to tell the truth seemed strange with WVA just about to latch but he stayed away and then the sprint was for 3rd and WVA was close but great to see Julian Alaphilippe, who was caught in the first crash and at the time did not look great, got him at the line - it seems the celebration for third was due to his radio braking in the early crash and he thought they were the first group so he thought he won, whoops! Quinn just cruised in but he should still be the front runner for most egressive for the entire tour baring injury or just breaking down from so much work up front.
As far as the rest Tadej, Jonas and others all finished 6:07 back of Wellens so just a rest day for them and little excitement - well except for Jonas and others being caught behind an early crash but as they waited for them it was not an issue. The only change in the top 10 was that Carlos Rodriguez who was ahead in the front group at the end leap frogged Ben Healy for 9th.
Up next is a rest day tomorrow then they go at it again on a mountain stage that finishes up Mt Ventoux and hard not think both Tadej and Jonas want to win this one as it is after all a famous climb and one most want to win.
Race Highlights:
- Winner - Tim Wellens
- Yellow Jersey - Tadej Pogacar
- Green Jersey - Jonathan Milan
- Polkadot Jersey - Lenny Matrinez
- While Jersey - Florian Lipowitz
GC W/Time Gaps
1) Tadej Pogacar
2) Jonas Vengegaard - +04:13
3) Florian Lipowitz - +07:53
4) Oscar Onley - +09:18
5) Kevin Vauquelin - +10:21
6) Primoz Roglic - +10:34
7) Felix Gall - +12:00
8) Tobias Johannessen - +12:33
9) Carlos Rodriquez - +18:26
10) Ben Healy - +18:41
Next up after a rest day - Stage 16 - Montpellier to Mont Ventoux - 171.5K (2950M Vert) - Mountain
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