After the spectacle of the first two Italian stages, which closed the first four of the general classification within a single second, the Tour de France remains on the peninsula and restarts for Piacenza-Turin. A 231 km section (the longest of this edition) decidedly flatter than the previous ones, suitable almost exclusively for fast wheels.
Nobody attacks, compact group
Along the Po plain no one makes an escape attempt, allowing the group to remain compact. Only those who wish to earn some points on the day’s GPM (3 fourth category) and at the flying finish line in Alessandria escape from the caravan.
On the Tortona Hill dedicated to the “Grand Champion” Fausto Coppi, after 70 km, the jersey then Of Abrahamsenwho in the meantime is wearing the green, passes first while at the intermediate sprint Pedersen gets ahead of Philipsen and Coquard in a first taste of the sprint.
Sobrero wins the Barbaresco GPM, Grellier attacks at -66 km
The group proceeds together. Near the Barbaresco GPM, 75 km from the finish, Matteo Sobrero he does the honors and passes in front of everyone, then rejoins the ranks.
Shortly afterwards, however, at -66, the Frenchman Fabien Grellier breaks the hesitation and sets off alone. He gains over 50″, he crosses the hill first in the last mountain grand prix of the day (that of Sommariva Perno) and enjoys a few km of dedicated cameras.
The French of TotalEnergies pushes on the pedals but the intentions of the group are very clear and when there are 28 km left from the finish line, they take it back preparing the ground for the final sprint.
Girmay wins the first sprint of the 2024 Tour de France
We enter the Turin area and the operations of the sprinters’ trains begin. A game of nerves and skill that becomes increasingly difficult as we get closer to the finish.
Some falls characterize the last km. At -6 km, Van der Poel was forced to stop due to a technical problem, leaving Jasper Philipsen without his trusted man. Alpecin must therefore reinvent its strategy, while Pogacar decides to be paraded and remain in the belly of the group by leaving the yellow jersey to Carapaz (the best placed among the top four in the general classification).
At 2km another fall breaks up the group, leaving half of the contenders for the stage win. Lidl launches Pedersen’s sprint who resists the comebacks of his opponents but gives way in the final 50 meters. Girmay he puts his bike ahead of everyone and wins the stage that closes the triptych of arrivals in Italy, Gaviria e De Lie complete the podium.
Tomorrow we start again, with Richard Carapaz new yellow leader, from Pinerolo to then cross the French border and start the fight between the best on the ramps of Galibier.
Stage Ranking
- Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) in 5h26’48”
- Fernando Gaviria (Movistar Team) st
- Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) s.t.
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) st
- Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco Alula) st
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) s.t.
- Fabio Jakobsen (Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl) st
- Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan Team) st
- Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) s.t.
- Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) s.t.
General Ranking
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) in 15h20’18”
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) st
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) s.t.
- Romain Bardet (Team DSM-Firmenich Postnl) a 10”
- Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) a 21”
- Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) s.t.
- Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadies) s.t.
- Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgohe) s.t.
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgohe) st
- Polka dot sweater: Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility)
- Green shirt: Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility)
- White shirt: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Continue reading the news of 1000 Cuori Rossoblu and follow our Facebook page
