2023-07-22 23:58:36
The 20th stage of the Tour de France where Thibaut Pinot is on the verge of victory. A recovered Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) won the second stage, while Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo-Visma) secured his second overall victory.
Matej Mohoric, the winner of the day before the interview, photo: CorVos Thibaut Pinot receiving great cheers from local fans photo: CorVos
Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) facing the final difficult stage to win the Maillot Jaune Photo: CorVos
Stage 20 Belfort – Le Marcstein 133.5km Image: ASO
Only two days left for the 110th Tour de France. The stage of the day was the Vosges Mountains, the last of the five major French mountains that have been covered so far, and it was a tough stage with an elevation difference of 3,600m, packed with 6 category mountains in a short distance of 133.5km.
After starting from Belfort, the athletes first flattened their legs at the 2nd class mountain Baron d’Alsace (distance 11.5km/average 5.2%). After an 18km downhill from two class 2 mountains and a class 3 mountain Schult pass, we climb the class 1 mountain Petit Baron (distance 9.3km / average 8.1%) without taking a breather. Then, following a 10km descent, we enter the final class 1 mountain Plazerwasel (distance 7.1km/average 8.4%) of the 2023 Tour.
A steep slope of 10.4% appears before the top of the climb, which alternates between 9% and 6-7% slopes. The finish, however, is not at the summit, but following 8.2km of gentle slopes and flat roads.
At the starting point, Belfort, Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo-Visma) lined up at the front, with a gap of 7 minutes and 35 seconds from the overall 2nd place. And when the start started at 1:45 pm, Viktor Campenaerts, who won the fighting spirit award for the second day in a row, decided the first attack with Jasper Debuist (both from Belgium, Lot Destiny).
Victor Campenaerts (Belgium, Lot Destiny) who tried to escape for the third consecutive day Photo: CorVos
Giulio Ciccone (Riddle Trek, Italy) confirms Mailoapova with the assistance of Skermoos Photo: CorVos
However, the escape did not last long, and was absorbed by the main group led by Riddle Trek on the climb of the first class 2 mountain Baron d’Alsace. And Giulio Ciccone (Italy), wearing Mailoapova (Mountain Prize jersey), passed the class 2 mountains in the lead and scored points following being pulled by Mads Pederson and Matthias Skellmoos (both Denmark, Riddle Trek). Felix Gal (Austria, AG2R Citroën), who was second in the mountain rankings, was out of contention, so Ciccone was a big draw for the eventual Mayoapova.
In the main group, following Julian Alaphilippe (Sudar Quickstep) and Axel Jingle (Cofidis) jumped out of the second class mountain descent, Carlos Rodriguez (Spain, Ineos Grenadiers) and 9th place Sepp Kuss (USA, Yumbo-Visma) dropped out. Although both suffered injuries that caused blood to flow from their faces, they restarted safely.
In the movement that repeats attack and absorption, there is also a scene where Vingego, who was positioned at the front of the group, unintentionally enters the group of 16 people in the lead. However, Vingegaard fell back to the peloton as persuaded by Warren Barguil (France, Arkea-Samsic), and at the top of the race, Ciccone, assisted by Skelmoos, passed the top of the second class mountain of the day. By that time, there were 7 people in the leading group, and there was Thibaut Pinot (France, Groupama FDJ) who was aiming for the section win in his last tour.
At one point, Jonas Vingego (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) also entered the leading group Photo: CorVos
Thibaut Pinot (France, Groupama FDJ) who got away with the last active tool Photo: CorVos
Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) who said before the race that he would aim for the stage win Photo: Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) running in the peloton while being protected by his CorVos teammate Photo: CorVos
And in order to assist Pinot, French champion Valentin Maduas (Groupama FDJ) joins the leading group with Rigoberto Uran (Colombia, EF Education Easy Post). Against the 10-man escape group, the peloton showed tight group control with UAE Team Emirates holding the lead to around a minute.
Ciccone passed the third grade 2 mountain and the 3rd grade mountain Schult Pass in the lead. And Ciccone, who showed a fist pump at the top, confirmed the acquisition of Italian Mailo Apova for the first time since Claudio Chiapucci in 1992.
After an 18km downhill, the 10 runners rushed into the 1st Class Mountain Petit Baron (distance 9.3km/average 8.1%) with a lead of 1 minute 17 seconds from the peloton. Maduas set the pace, followed by two French climbers, Pino and Virgil, and Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers, Great Britain). At 5.5km to the summit, Pinot picked up the pace and passed the cheering Petit Baron summit alone.
Thibaut Pinot alone on the penultimate mountain (Groupama FDJ, France) Photo: CorVos
With Pinot leading the way alone in France, Pinot completed the 10km descent and started climbing the first-class mountain Plazerwersel (distance 7.1km/average 8.4%). Virgil and Pidcock trailed by 20 seconds, and the Peloton entered the final climb 1 minute and 20 seconds behind.
On the other hand, there was also a scene where David Godu (France, Groupama FDJ), who was in the peloton, crashed on the descent just before. However, the 10th-placed Godou was not seriously injured and finished 24th, 5 minutes 7 seconds behind the leader.
Then Maika cut Pino’s time to 50 seconds and Pogacar attacked with 5km left to the summit. Vingego reacted to his sharp jump that didn’t make him feel injured or sick, and Garu caught up with the two who had slowed down due to restraint. Garu accelerated to pass the two, but Pogachar and Vingego followed perfectly behind. After that, the three joined the leading group of Virgil and Pidcock who caught Pino, and a sharp group of six people was formed just before the top of the first class mountain.
Tadej Pogacar attacking on the final mountain (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) Photo: CorVos
The head was narrowed down to three people, Garu, Vingego, and Pogachar Photo: CorVos
However, there is a clear difference in the legs between Pino and his friends, who have continued to use their strength to escape, and Pogachar and others. Then, with Gal in the lead, they crossed the top of the 1st grade mountain Platzerversel, and joined Adam Yates (UK, UAE Team Emirates) and Simon Yates (UK, Jaiko AlUllah) in the lead group that was once once more in check. Adam Yates took the lead through Flamm Rouge (1km) with Pogacar assisting in the final laps.
At the final corner with 200m to go, Vingego took the lead and Pogacar immediately reacted. The two who have fought for the maillot jaune so far enter the final straight side by side. Vinguego stepped in to celebrate the confirmation of the Maillot Jaune with victory. However, Pogacar’s speed surpassed Vingego’s, and when he reached the finish line first, Pogacar let out a roar and exploded with joy.
Jonas Vingego (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) set up at the final corner photo: CorVos Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) who beat Vingego and took the lead Photo: CorVos
Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) who shouted and passed the finish Photo: ASO
Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) who showed his usual smile at the award ceremony Photo: ASO
Pogacar lost time to Vinguegaard in the individual time trial of the 16th stage, and stalled at the super mountain La Roz Pass of the 17th stage the next day. However, Pogacar, who won the second section with a run that can be called a comeback, commented, “Today, I finally regained my true strength. After a few days of suffering, I was in good shape from the start to the finish. And I’m really happy with this victory. I waited for Adam (Yates) on the climb, and in the end I was able to win from his leadout.”
Also, when asked regarding his memories of this tournament, he said, “My best memory is the fun atmosphere in the team bus. On the other hand, the worst thing was Marc Soler’s worried look at me at Roz Pass (laughs).”
Pogacar, who won the stage, got a bonus time of -10 seconds, and Vingegaard, who was passed by Gar just before the finish, finished in 3rd place (-4 seconds). As a result, the lead was reduced from 7 minutes 35 seconds to 7 minutes 29 seconds, but Vingegaard won the maillot jaune (overall win) for the second time in a row.
In addition, Rodriguez, who dropped out in the early stages, was 52 seconds behind the leader in 12th place, so Simon Yates overtook him and finished 4th overall. Due to the same crash, Kuss was significantly behind, and Gaudu was 9th overall, and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis, France) was 10th overall.
Jonas Vingego (Denmark, Jumbo Visma) who almost got the Mayo Jaune Photo: CorVos
Giulio Ciccone (Italy, Riddle Trek) who decided to win Mailoapova and finished with a smile Photo: Thibaut Pino, who won the CorVos Fighting Award (France, Groupama FDJ) Photo: ASO
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