Pyrotechnic finale in the last Italian arrival of the Tour de France, with the expected bunch sprint that sees the Eritrean Biniam Girmay who outwitted the favourite Pedersen, taking home the first, historic, victory in the Big loop. Before the final very little show, with the prospect of the big stage on Tuesday he convinces the group to minimize the pace and save your strength in view of the many climbs. Pace almost touristy for almost the entire stage, animated only by the solitary action of the Frenchman Grellierwho held on to the lead until 28 kilometres from the finish, before giving way to the battle between the sprinters’ trains.
A fell 2 kilometers from the end he shuffles the cards and opens a highway to Pedersen: in the final metres, however, Biryam Girmay chooses to go to the barriers and manages to win by the skin of his teeth. If the ranking men choose not to take risks and slow down, he takes advantage Richard Carapazwho will wear the yellow jersey tomorrow on the Galibier.
Dead calm in the group
After great broth of the first few days, the most anticipated news by the group comes from the weather forecast: temperatures are finally more pleasant in the longest stage of this Tour. The first attack of the day comes after a few kilometers, with the Uno-X Mobility riders Abrahamsen and Kulset trying to greet the company. peloton he lets them do it more than willingly and, when the duo realizes that no one is willing to give them a hand in their escape, it lets itself be reabsorbed almost immediately. The group was also compact on the approach to Pavia, with the cyclists happy to avoid the hills of Oltrepò Pavese and the longer climbs of the Langhe. risk of thunderstorms in the late afternoon convinces everyone to stay in the group, including Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck, who control the pace. The pace of the group is certain not crazyunder 40 km/h on average; many are eager to save energy in view of tomorrow’s Alpine stage.
Dead calm also in the approach to Tortona, with the climb dedicated to the champion from Castellania Fausto Coppi but not even the point for the climbers’ classification manages to break the non-aggression pact that seems to dominate the group. The Norwegian Abrahamsen makes a small move and takes it home, only to be immediately reabsorbed by the pelotonThe 20 kilometres that separate them from the intermediate sprint in Alessandria, where the sprinters will begin to measure their respective strengths, slip away without big emotionsThe last kilometers see the challenge between Alpecin and Arkea but the Lidl-Trek standard bearer wins the sprint Mads Pedersenwho manages to get the better of Philipsen and Coquard. Once past the intermediate sprint, the group starts to proceed again at a steady pace almost touristy.
Grellier tries but it’s not his day
One hundred kilometers from the finish, no trace of an escapeapart from the Uno-X’s rush in the first few kilometres: it’s unlikely that we won’t make it to the expected bunch sprint in Turin. Cavendish starts to prepare by stopping at the side of the road for change both wheels of his bicycle but it is one of the very few marginal notes of a stage that, at least up to this point, has been quite boring. The Isle of Man rider has to make up a minute on the group but, given the very relaxed pace, he manages to do so in the space of a few kilometres. The group begins the climb of the Barbarescoonly 1.5 kilometers at 6.5% average gradient, faced with a more important attitude thanks to the action of the home idol Matthew Sobrero: the Bora-Hansgrohe cyclist is from Montelupo Albese and does not let slip the chance to win the home GPM, beating the usual Abrahamsen.
Finally, an escape arrives: starting is Fabien Grellier who, on the approach to Alba, gains about fifteen seconds on the group. The TotalEnergies cyclist would have preferred to start with some other cyclists but, at least today, very few are willing to work hard. Once he has crossed the Tanaro, Grellier has about 48 seconds of advantage and continues to pull as if nothing had happened: the chances of winning the stage are reduced to a minimum but, in any case, a commendable attempt by the twenty-nine-year-old from Vendée. With Alpecin, Jayco and Lidl leading the group, Grellier tackles the last climb of the day, that of Summary Pernotaking the point up for grabs in the climbers’ classification. The group, still 50 seconds behind, decides that that’s enough and sets off in pursuit, nibbling away seconds after seconds from the transalpine talent.
Chaotic sprint, Girmay wins
With 32 kilometres to go, Grellier’s advantage is just 10 seconds but the peloton he doesn’t want to catch up with him too quickly: better to keep him there in front and save his strength for the last 8 kilometres of the race, where the trains of sprinters will have to elbow a lot. A little bit of concern about the threatening clouds on the horizon, as the rain would make more dangerous the inevitable bunch sprint. With 28 kilometers to go, the breakaway is reabsorbed and the sprinters’ teams begin to fight among themselves to control the situation at the head of the group. The change of pace of the group is clear; now they go at 50 kilometers per hour, keeping an eye on the wind, which could shuffle the cards in the approach to the sprint. The wide roads facilitate the battle between the various teams, with Pogacar and Vingegaard they mark very tightly on this occasion too.
The various roundabouts cause a bad joke to Casper Pedersen, with the Soudal Quick-Step sprinter touching the wheel of another cyclist and falling heavily to the ground 12 kilometres from the finish. The Dane manages to resume the race after a quick medical check but everyone’s attention is not only on the sprint but also on the fight for the yellow jersey. Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Carapaz they have the same time and, therefore, everything will depend on how they get to the finish line. With 6 kilometers to go, a mechanical problem for Mathieu Van der Poel who therefore will not be able to lead the sprint against his teammate Jasper Philipsen. The last kilometres are run at an extremely fast pace with the tranquility of the elongated neutralization zone 5 kilometers in case of falls or mechanical problems.
Bettiol steps forward to lend a hand to Richard Carapazwho is aiming for the yellow jersey but two kilometers away there is a bad fall in the middle of the group, involving the favorite Philipsen. The sprint is exciting but the winner is the Eritrean Girmay: a brave choice to go to the barriers, Pedersen does not close him and he is mocked by a hair’s breadth. A historic victory, given that no representative from sub-Saharan Africa had ever won a stage at the Tour de France. It takes a few minutes to figure out who will wear the yellow jersey: in the end the Carapaz checkwho has the same time as Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel but better placings. The yellow jersey is equally historic, given that no ecuadorian had never dressed her before.
The ranking
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Tomorrow’s stage
The 2024 Tour already offers a stage to take in the first week definitely with the springs. In fact, to go from Pinerolo to Valloire, you will have to face some important climbsstarting from the passage to Sestrieres, above 2,000 meters above sea level. You start to climb in altitude immediately, which could be in favor of those who want to attempt a escape from the beginning.
A long descent will be a much needed break before tackling the real difficulties of the day, the rise of the Montgenèvre and the legendary Galibier Pass.
If in the first stages we have already seen some movements among the favourites, this seems to be the right stage for really important attacks which could already weigh heavily on the fate of this Tour de France.
