Dane Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education) won the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday at the Megève altiport, where Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE) kept the yellow jersey, on the eve of the arrival at Granon , the highest of this edition (2,413 meters above sea level). The stage was interrupted for almost a quarter of an hour by a demonstration by pro-climate activists.
Race interrupted by protesters
Cort Nielsen narrowly edged out Australian Nick Schultz on the finish ramp. Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez took third place in the stage, which ended with the climb to the altiport, 19.2 kilometers long (at 4.1%). The peloton, with Pogacar, crossed the line almost nine minutes late at the end of the 145 kilometers.
A breakaway of 25 riders took shape after about sixty kilometers. The Italian Alberto Bettiol broke away at 42 kilometers, but the race had to be neutralized due to the presence of nine demonstrators sitting on the road, then arrested by the gendarmerie.
A second success on this lap for Nielsen
After the new start given 38 kilometers from the finish, Bettiol presented himself in the lead at the foot of the long climb towards the altiport. He was then caught by some of his breakaway companions before Sanchez went on the attack six kilometers from the finish. The Spanish veteran (38) was joined and a counter-attacking group returned to the altiport track to play for the stage victory.
The German Lennard Kämna, who was in a position to take the yellow jersey (8 min 43 sec in the standings), could not achieve the goal. However, he moved up to second place, eleven seconds behind Pogacar. Cort Nielsen, 29, won the Tour for the second time, four years after his first success.