Double blow for Bilbao, blow for nothing for Gaudu. AFP / THOMAS SAMSON / REUTERS / BENOIT TESSIER
The Spaniard won in Issoire during the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday. The Breton, he had another trying day.
TOPS
The beautiful day in Bilbao. The Spaniard Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), slipped into the good breakaway, was the best ranked rider overall. The child of Guernica, who dreamed of shining in the Basque Country, at the start of the Tour, won ahead of the German Georg Zimmerman (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and the Australian Ben O’Connor (AG2R- Citroën) in Issoire. Bilbao signs its first success on the Tour (he who won 2 victories in the Tour of Italy in 2019), the first Spanish victory on the Grande Boucle since Omar Fraile, in Mende in 2018. A victory charged with emotion, the he EF Education team had the pain of losing the Swiss Gino Mäder, after a serious fall during the last Tour de Suisse. Bilbao climbs to 5th place in the general classification (4’34” behind Jonas Vingegaard).
Le suplice de Christ Neiland. The Latvian quickly took over from his Canadian teammate Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech), winner on Sunday at the top of Puy-de-Dôme. After attacking 32.5 km from the finish, the one who has spared no effort since leaving Bilbao tried to defend a handful of seconds. In vain. He was joined 3 km from the finish.
The Barguil-Alaphilippe blue tandem. Set back since the start of the Tour, the climber from the Arkéa-Samsic team and the puncher from the Soudal-Quick Step team have stood out. Despite repeated efforts, they were unable to distinguish themselves at the end of the stage, finishing so close, so far from Bilbao… Barguil (9th at 30”), Alaphilippe (10th at 32”).
Read alsoTour de France: Bilbao takes place, Bardet ejected from the top 10 … The general classification at the end of the 10th stage
The rhythm of a stage carried out at breakneck speed. The heat (38° on arrival in Issoire) invited you to take advantage of the benefits of a siesta. The peloton only listened to its desire to launch with ardor the onslaught of the difficulties of an intense day (3200 vertical drop) deprived of air but not of audacity. An indomitable step.
FLOPS
The (new) bad day of David Gaudu. Early in the stage, David Gaudu, the leader of the Groupama-FDJ team, grimaced, suffered. And quickly saw his team do everything possible with Stefan Küng and Valentin Madouas in particular to come to his mind. After a grueling day, the Breton climber managed to finish with the yellow jersey group (31st at 2’53”). After cold sweats. A new delicate day, simply due to a difficult digestion of the violent efforts after a day of rest or the pitiless mark of a limit for the one who appears in 9th place in the general classification.
The duo Van Aert-Van der Poel mal inspire. The Belgian (Jumbo-Visma) and the Dutchman (Alpecin-Deceuninck) plunged into the Saint-Alyre-Es-Montagne descent for the beauty of the gesture, 46 km from the finish. Without much chance of success. The duo who animated the spring of the classics wanted a little freedom. But he left in time. Caught between the breakaways and the peloton, they remained in a frustrating position. A pass of arms for the image. After dropping his rival, Van Aert continued alone, before being caught 28 km from the finish.
Read alsoTour de France 2023: Pello Bilbao wins a crazy 10th stage
Powless’s slack shot. The American (EF Education), wearing the polka dot jersey, often on the attack, had a trying day. Neilson Powless finished late, proven (125th at 20’18”). But he remains firmly attached to the goal he has set himself, the mountain jersey.
”
data-script=”
>
