Consolation: Pogačar victorious in penultimate stage of the Tour de France
Vingegaard set to win second yellow jersey
On Saturday’s penultimate stage of the 2023 Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar got some measure of satisfaction by earning his second victory of the 110th. After his horrible Stage 17, the Slovenian consoled himself with his 11th career stage win. It was UAE-Emirates’ third triumph of the 110th edition. Jonas Vingegaard will win his second consecutive Tour, while his rival will take home his fourth white young rider jersey in a row. Hugo Houle was the top Canadian in 48th.
The Course
It was the final GC day of the 110th edition, and accordingly the organizers packed a bunch of climbs into 133 km. In the first half were three Cat. 2s before a Cat. 3 marked the midway point. Two Cat. 1s dominated the second half, Petit Ballon followed by Col du Platzerwasel, the latter peaking 9 km from the finish in Le Markstein but more climbing along the way, including a rise to the line.
Look at the profile of #TDF2023 stage 20, this could be insane! pic.twitter.com/DQjhrpscQo
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 22, 2023
Saturday was the Last Chance Saloon for non-sprinters. It took a while for the race to settle down and a breakaway to gel. Giulio Ciccone buttressed his KOM lead by cresting the first climb in the lead. Two chaps in the top-10, Carlos Rodriguez and Sepp Kuss, suffered crashes. Jonas Vingegaard was part of the breakaway. The breakaway shrank on Climb 2, with Ciccone again hoovering up the points alongside Tom Pidcock and a handful of others. The peloton was close enough that various riders tried to bridge.
On the third Cat. 2, Col de Grosse Pierre, UAE-Emirates grabbed the peloton’s reins from Jumbo-Visma. Thibaut Pinot bridged to the Ciccone-Pidcock bunch. After Grosse Pierre, Ciccone led the classification by 31 point over Felix Gall.
Col de la Schlucht was the only Cat. 3 on the day. The Ciccone-Pidcock-Pinot break was ten riders strong and a minute ahead of the peloton when it started to climb.
And just like that, Ciccone was the first Italian to win the red polka dots in 31 years.
A 20 km descent led to Petit Ballon, and the breakaway had a 1:15 buffer as the road kicked up. The Pinot supporters were in a fine froth as he led the charge, snapping the fugitive group in half. Pinot went solo.
The Frenchman peaked 35 seconds ahead of his closest pursuers. The descent was hairy; tenth-place David Gaudu crashed.
Col du Platzerwasel
Pinot still had 21 seconds over his chasers–Pidcock and Warren Barguil–as the last big climb of the 2023 Tour de France began.
Pogačar attacked from the tiny yellow jersey group. Vingegaard went with him and then the two slowed down enough that eighth place Felix Gall came over. With 4.5 km to climb Pidcock and Barguil reached Pinot. The yellow jersey trio was a mere 10 seconds behind. Gall’s work made a leading sextet with 12 km remaining in the stage. When Gall surged again only Pogačar and Vingegaard could go along.
A little down the road, Simon Yates was jumping over Rodriguez in the GC, riding with twin Adam, who would consolidate his first ever Grand Tour podium.
The Yates boys were closing in on the leading trio. Vingegaard and Gall had an animated discussion. At the 5 km-to-go banner, the Yates brothers linked up. Adam took up the pace-making.
In the sprint, Vingegaard went outside Adam Yates, Pogačar went inside, and the Dane gave a shake of the head. Gall was runner-up.
In the GC, Guillaume Martin snatched the unfortunate Sepp Kuss’ top-10 spot. Gaudu remains top Frenchman.
Sunday is the conclusion of the Tour de France: a procession into Paris and then a sprint on the Champs-Élysées.
2023 Tour de France Stage 20
1) Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia/UAE-Emirates) 3:31:02
2) Felix Gall (Austria/ AG2R Citroën) s.t.
3) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Jumbo-Visma) s.t.
48) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +12:27
2023 Tour de France GC
1) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Jumbo-Visma) 79:16:38
2) Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia/UAE-Emirates) +7:29
3) Adam Yates (Great Britain/UAE-Emirates) +10:56
4) Simon Yates (Great Britain/Jayco-AlUla) +12:23
5) Carlos Rodriguez (Spain/Ineos) +12:57
