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What a exciting resolution of the stage. Both, for the stage and for the GC.
But it was just a 2km climb, so no conclusions can be drawn from here, except for the ambition of the riders. Next step the very long climb of the Galibier, I wonder if it will be hard enough.
Tomorrow a flat stage, I want to see an sprint, but I dislike how the peloton allows 3-4 low profile riders to go without competition .
I wasn't feeling this one. Pretty much to script although surprising Jonas had top tier snap. Deserved break winner, but foregone conclusion once he went solo. Maybe I was delusional but I was hoping for more interest from classics guys from the peloton.
Great to see the breakaway paying off. The heat and climbing having a big impact today. Really enjoyed the stage highlights and kudos to Bardet for hanging in there.. Vingegaard honestly seemed up for it today so we live in hope. Crucially he still had domestiques today which was a feature last year for Pogi IIRC
Evenepoel hunting down Pogacar and Vingegaard seemingly by himself was pretty epic. He must have descended like a mad man.
Why did visma ride today? Kinda tipped their hand with jonas' strength. Would have been way funnier if UAE had ridden for the stage and then pog couldn't drop him.
So did the peloton give up the chase after that crash with Van Aert? I thought they could still catch the breakaway at that point.
I expected more fight for the break. The peloton let them go, and it is good for the leader also because the best riders on the GC are 15 minutes behind.
I still hope that it could have a thrilling finale.
So the peloton is closing in now, 9 minute gap with 60-ish to go. Will they catch the break away?
It could have been, but they lost it.
The winer is on the break. Will any of the GC contenders attack on the last climb?