After more than 60 kilometers of solo breakaway, the Luxembourger won one of the greatest victories of his career. Thibaut Pinot comes to die in 4th place.
Master in the art of rebounding, Thibaut Pinot very nearly made a new formidable demonstration of it this Sunday, on the occasion of the 9th stage of the Tour de France. Chasing Bob Jungels in the last 15 kilometers, the Frenchman was finally too short to contest the victory over the Luxembourger from AG2R-Citroën. On arrival at Châtel-Les Portes du Soleil, Jungels won while Pinot had to settle for 4th place after releasing his effort in the last kilometer. At the head of the general classification, there is no notable change, even if Tadej Pogacar placed a small banderilla in the final climb.
The fact of the day :
What a performance from Bob Jungels! The Luxembourger returns from two years of hardship and signs one of the greatest victories of his career. After more than 60 kilometers of solo breakaway, the rider from the AG2R formation went to raise his arms in Châtel. Thibaut Pinot will have tried and will have made the French dream in the Pas de Morgins by attacking 9 kilometers from the summit. Unfortunately for the Groupama-FDJ rider, his panache was not enough. He even crashed in the last kilometer, being caught by the Spaniards Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos) and Carlos Verona (Movistar). Pinot finished fourth in this stage, at the end of the end. His operation will at least have allowed him to regain confidence and regain feelings lost for several years now. “When Bob Jungels attacked, I had the legs to follow him but I couldn’t believe it. It was windy in the valley so I didn’t think it would take 2’30 min… I think that in a more difficult pass it would have happened differently. I’m happy because I was able to restart the race at a time when there wasn’t much suspense. It’s the first day when I had almost good feelings, ” said the Frenchman after the finish.
Nothing moves in general
The UAE formation, team of Tadej Pogacar, rode all day at the head of the peloton to manage the gap with the breakaway. For the stage victory? No, so as not to let Rigoberto Uran (EF), present in the breakaway of the day, come back into the game in the general classification (16e at 3’24 min). Uran was finally caught and then released in the Pas de Morgins, so the yellow jersey group cut their effort. It was only in the last kilometer of this stage that Pogacar decided to attack in the company of Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) to try to make a break. The two favorites for the final victory in Paris finish 5 and 6 respectivelye of the stage 49 seconds from Bob Jungels. They take three small seconds from the other leaders of this Tour de France. Beyond that, nothing changed today for the general classification. Tadej Pogacar obviously remains in yellow. Note that David Gaudu (FDJ) and Romain Bardet (DSM) spent this day which could be difficult the day after their fall.
Tweet of the day:
Luxembourg will have waited for this for 11 years. Bob Jungels (AG2R) succeeds legend Andy Schleck, eleven long years after his last victory. After two difficult years, Bob Jungels won an extraordinary victory this Sunday at Châtel. The two men reunited after the finish.
Statement of the day:
Bob Jungels (AG2R), winner of the day in Châtel: “I had years of trouble but we finally found the problem. I see it getting better and better. Yesterday I was among the best, today is one of my best days for 10 years. I couldn’t believe it until the finish line. I continued my effort on the big slopes, and I knew that on the flat he would surely not catch up with me. After the Col de la Croix, I went downhill too fast for Simon Geschke. I knew this descent so I attacked 62 km from the finish. There are so many emotions at the moment. Andy Schleck cried for my victory at the finish. It had been 11 years since Luxembourg won. The greatest victories come when it’s the hardest. I had a stressful moment in Denmark with a positive Covid test. I was still able to take the start, fortunately, to experience these emotions today. »
Picture of the day:
Thibaut Pinot at the end of the end… It’s nice to see the Frenchman like that again. In (very) great physical and moral difficulty for two years, the Groupama-FDJ climber is finally finding his level. He finished 4th in this 9th stage between Aigle and Châtel and regained sensations lost for so long. Carried by the public, Pinot chased Bob Jungels (winner of the day) for 15 km. Not enough for the Frenchman who finally finished 4th after crashing in the last kilometer.
The classification of this 9th stage:
1. Bob Jungels (LUX / AG2) the 192.9 km in 4 h 46:39.
(average: 40.5 km/h)
2. Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP/INE) at 22 seconds.
3. Carlos Verona (ESP/MOV) 26.
4. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/GFJ) 40.
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE) 49.
6. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/JUM) 49.
7. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INE) 52.
8. Adam Yates (GBR/INE) 52.
9. Enric Mas (ESP/MOV) 52.
10. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) 52.
The general classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE) 33:43:44.
2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN / JUM) at 39 seconds.
3. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INE) 1:17.
4. Adam Yates (GBR/INE) 1:25.
5. David Gaudu (FRA/GFJ) 1:38.
6. Romain Bardet (FRA/DSM) 1:39.
7. Thomas Pidcock (GBR/INE) 1:46.
8. Enric Mas (ESP/MOV) 1:50.
9. Neilson Powless (USA/EF1) 1:55.
10. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) 2:13.
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