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Some 98 days after his horror crash at Itzulia Basque nation, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) produced an important second of the 2024 Tour de France thus far, mounting an unbelievable comeback trip to each pull again Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates) and beat him within the two-up dash in Le Lioran after being dropped 31.6km from the end.
In what was a outstanding sign of a whole return to kind for Vingegaard, who was a query mark for even beginning the 111th version of the Tour, the two-time defending champion clawed again a 30-second deficit to the race chief on the Col de Pertus, earlier than working collectively and gorgeous him within the closing dash.
Pogačar waited till the ultimate 150 metres to launch his explosive cost for dwelling however surprisingly, the yellow jersey by no means got here out of the wheel and the Dane held on with an amazing break throw, solely daring to have fun his fourth Tour stage win previous the road.
Evenepoel rode his personal tempo on the ultimate two climbs and recovered nicely to catch and faltering Roglič and handle third on the day solely 25 seconds off the 2 males who’ve received the previous 4 Excursions. Roglič contrastingly appeared as if he let his podium problem slip when he crashed on a nook nearing the ultimate kilometre, however his 55-second deficit on the line was modified to the identical 25 as Evenepoel because of the 3km rule being in play.
Practically 5 hours of breathless racing and 211km later and solely a photograph end may separate them, with Vingegaard gaining only one second in his pursuit of a 3rd successive yellow jersey. It was an enormous day for Visma-Lease a Bike and an enormous blow to the morale of UAE Workforce Emirates, who labored tirelessly all day to forestall a breakaway from stealing the day from their chief. Ultimately, it was his key GC rival who snatched it on the final.
The Slovenian held onto the yellow jersey in fact as the 2 arrived collectively however Vingegaard landed an enormous psychological blow heading in the direction of the Pyrenees this weekend. Vingegaard additionally remained third on GC as Evenepoel labored arduous behind as talked about to restrict the losses, with the debutant now 1:06 from Pogačar and the Dane 1:14.
“It’s in fact very emotional for me. Getting back from the crash, it means quite a bit and all of the issues I went by way of within the final three months. It makes you consider that and I might by no means have been in a position to do that with out my household,” mentioned an emotional Vingegaard because the tears fell previous the road.
“I imply I’m simply glad to be right here and it means a lot to win a stage, particularly to win it for my household. They have been there supporting me the entire time.”
Vingegaard by no means gave up within the closing 30kms when Pogačar dropped what a killing blow on his GC rivals, becoming a member of up with Roglič on the descent from Puy Mary earlier than discovering the energy to muster up a outstanding comeback and beat the Slovenian to the victory.
“I couldn’t observe the assault he had, it was very robust and I simply needed to struggle. Truly, I didn’t suppose that I might be capable of make it again however I simply stored combating and I made it again, began relaying with him and I’m a bit stunned I may beat him within the dash,” mentioned Vingegaard. “However in fact it means a lot to me and I’m so glad in regards to the victory in the present day. I might by no means have thought this three months in the past.”
And for the Dane, it was by no means in regards to the thoughts video games which had been enjoying out within the media over the previous few days, however solely the need to win.
“I didn’t even consider that [a psychological battle]. I used to be solely interested by doing my very own tempo after which doing the dash.”
Breathless struggle for the breakaway
There was nothing quiet in regards to the begin of stage 11 as racing correctly acquired underway within the second week, with assaults coming proper from the flag out of Évaux-les-Bains. A very good half of the entire 171-rider peloton have been and what unfolded was a fully breathless opening 90 kilometres.
EF Schooling-EasyPost confirmed their intentions as one of the groups within the hotly contested breakaway formation, with all of Ben Healy, Richard Carapaz and Alberto Bettiol exhibiting themselves within the opening two hours. Alongside Visma-Lease a motorcycle who launched all of Wout van Aert, Bart Lemmen and Christophe Laporte at completely different factors.
Small teams had some success resembling that of Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ), Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Inns) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), however they weren’t given a lot benefit.
A giant group had gone throughout to try to catch them with Van Aert, Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Healy and Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) all in there. However simply because the catch was about to be made, Tim Wellens appeared on the entrance of the peloton and confirmed UAE Workforce Emirates and Pogačar’s intentions to manage the day.
Management it they might however the peloton nonetheless fancied it within the undulating opening part, with a large number of assaults being launched at lightning tempo main issues to remain collectively till the 135km to go mark.
One of many favourites for the stage, Carapaz, not on his first try, acquired off the entrance on the descent which led to the foot of the primary categorised climb, the Côte de Mouilloux. He was alongside Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies) this time having didn’t make an earlier transfer with Cristián Rodríguez (Arkéa-B&B Inns) stick.
The likes of Jayco AlUla and Uno-X tried pacing at factors to carry again strikes having missed out on getting Simon Yates and Johannessen up into the break respectively.
Concurrently, the peloton’s backdoors have been blown extensive open by the livid tempo that was averaging near 50kph within the opening 90 kilometres, quite a bit quicker than each stage had began thus far on this yr’s Tour.
There have been DNFs for Cofidis from Ion Izagirre and Alexis Renard, whereas Bahrain-Victorious struggled with what appeared like diseases as Fred Wright, Pello Bilbao and Matej Mohoric suffered in the back of the race, nicely off the place they might often be.
However with 130km to go and the primary of six climbs tackled, the break of the day had lastly shaped. Becoming a member of Carapaz and Vercher in entrance was a really robust chase group of Healy, Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Oier Lazkano (Movistar).
UAE lastly allow them to get away however did rapidly set up their place in management and the hole was stored inside three minutes for a lot of the following part. A couple of stragglers launched out of the bunch to try to make a last-ditch effort into the day’s break, however they have been allowed as Pogačar had clearly given the decision to finish the all-out racing.
The quartet who went away and made it a gaggle of 10 in entrance was comprised of Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ).
The yellow helmets of the squad main the crew’s classification put their two rouleurs Wellens and Nils Politt again on the entrance with QuickStep and Visma simply behind, maintaining the tempo excessive in anticipation of the climbing-backloaded closing 50km of the 111th Tour’s second-longest stage.
The battle for the stage win
Whereas the break’s benefit appeared to move in the fitting path because it reached 2:30, it appeared as if they is perhaps allowed to struggle for the stage in any case. However this was short-lived when Politt and Wellens correctly acquired into their work on the strategy to the important thing Col de Néronne and Puy Mary climbs.
Shortly, the deficit was all the way down to 1:30 with 70km to go and it was wanting extra doubtless that Pogačar would have his manner as he did for a lot of the Giro d’Italia. This might exit barely because the roads kicked uphill to 1:55 however by no means did UAE let off the tempo.
UAE Workforce Emirates have been joined by Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Soudal-QuickStep and Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe on the entrance with 48km to go and the Néronne’s decrease slopes incoming. That is the place Politt handed over duties to Marc Soler to information Pogačar and Co into the slim climbing roads of the Massif Central.
Ineos and Visma took over on the entrance for Rodríguez and the infernal tempo confirmed simply what steep roads have been incoming, with Van Aert shifting into management for Visma. The Belgian then suffered a uncommon crash as he acquired it mistaken on a nook, managing to not take anybody with him fortunately.
Sivakov, Almeida and Yates made up Pogačar’s practice on the three.8km climb, with the 9% common gradients thinning down the group considerably even with 44km left to trip.
The break, who have been now only one minute forward, began fracturing with the GC favourites closing in, prompting Lazkano and Healy to assault and go away the remaining behind. Healy tried to assist Carapaz initially however after realising he was stronger, set off alone to catch Lazkano, passing him earlier than Col de Néronne the KOM level.
Carapaz, Lazkano and Healy quickly shaped a trio on the slopes of the Puy Mary however behind them, UAE have been cooperating even higher than they’d on the Galibier as Juan Ayuso hit the entrance for his Slovenian chief, lowering the faltering remnants of the break’s benefit to underneath 15 seconds.
With 32km to go, the whole lot began to alter and the cream started rising to the highest. Solely Healy remained resolute in his effort however Adam Yates was placing the stress on and shortly ended the break. With the massive crowds welcoming the highest riders solely 9 of the highest climbers stayed with the Brit’s tempo.
Not lengthy after, Pogačar launched his transfer, 31.6km from the end and nearing the highest of Puy Mary. Vingegaard responded finest with Roglič and Evenepoel each on a small hole, however the yellow jersey was shifting away with a seven-second lead as he hit the notorious descent and strategy to the Col de Pertus.
Issues got here collectively for all these chasing behind the race chief, who was greater than honouring the yellow jersey with a surprising solo transfer. However as soon as the roads started to go uphill once more on the Col de Pertus, Vingegaard and Roglič the following finest after Pogačar, with Evenepoel struggling once more.
The Dane began discovering his rhythm and dropped the Crimson Bull rider, who was faltering behind and being caught by Evenepoel who was driving at his personal tempo. With Vingegaard flying on the inclines, Pogačar’s explosivity appeared dampened and he was wanting again for his rival.
Quickly, the catch was made 14.8km from the road and simply earlier than the bonus dash as much as the crest of the Col de Portes. Pogačar saved his energy and sprinted to the utmost eight seconds however Vingegaard appeared ominous in his wheel, virtually rounding him and taking 5 bonuses of his personal.
The 2 finest riders from the previous three Excursions rode nicely collectively, swapping turns and exhibiting that any notion of a ‘large 4’ was actually a ‘large two’, however Evenepoel and Roglič have been cooperating about 30 seconds again coming into the ultimate twisty roads and end line.
Roglič suffered a late crash which appeared as if it was going to hinder his GC positions, crossing the road 30 seconds down on Evenpoel and almost a minute off the leaders. However with the 3km rule making use of on stage 11, he was saved and given the identical time because the Belgian to remain 2:15 from yellow.
The finale performed out in entrance with Vingegaard holding off Pogačar who couldn’t unleash his full dash behind him, compelled to take a seat again within the saddle amid his closing push. The Dane would solely acquire one second when the bonus seconds have been totted up however it was an enormous second within the pair’s rivalry.
Outcomes
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