July 6, 2023
Tarbes to Cauteret – Cambasque – 145 km
A second day in the Pyrenees brought Tadej Pogacar back to life as he clinched the stage at the Cauteret-Cambasque and pedaled into second place overall in the Yellow Jersey classification. Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo Visma took the lead in the Yellow Jersey on this second mountainous stage of the 2023 Tour de France. Jai Hindley who won handily yesterday in Laruns, is now third, while Adam Yates who held the coveted Yellow for the first three stages slipped to sixth overall. It was Pogacar’s 15th stage win of the 2023 season and his 10th stage win overall at the Tour de France
“I wouldn’t say it’s a revenge, yet it feels sweet to win today and take some time back,” said Pogacar after the stage. “I feel a little bit relieved. I feel much better now. Who wouldn’t be worried after yesterday’s time loss?”
The new Yellow Jersey Vingegaard said, “First of all, I’m super happy to be back in the yellow jersey. Obviously we wanted to attack on the Tourmalet but it cost energy. Tadej was really strong… It’ll make an exciting Tour de France for what is left.”
All of the riders enjoyed the surprise visit at the finish of French President Emanuel Macron.
The Deets
Wout van Aert attacked from the gun, followed straight away by Julian Alaphilippe. A group of 20 leaders was formed at km 20 in three waves: Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers), Neilson Powless, James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost), Kasper Asgreen, Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step), Nikias Arndt (Bahrain Victorious), Benoît Cosnefroy, Oliver Naesen (Ag2r-Citröen), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Bryan Coquard, Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Gorka Izagirre, Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar), Krists Neilands (Israel-PremierTech), Chris Juul-Jensen (Jayco-AlUla), Matîs Louvel (Arkéa-Samsic), Tobias Halland Johannessen and Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X). Coquard passed first at the intermediate sprint of Sarrancolin (km 49.2), before Van Aert, while the peloton led by Bora-Hansgrohe was timed 3’20’’ behind.
Powless First to Crest Col d’Aspin, Johannessen First at Tourmalet
Powless crested col d’Aspin in the lead, which put him back in the polka dot jersey while Felix Gall was nowhere to be seen. The group with Guerreiro in second position was reduced to 14 riders.
On the ascent to the Tourmalet Alaphilippe sped up 11.5 km before the summit and Shaw followed him but Van Aert, pacing the group steadily, brought them back one kilometer further.
Jumbo-Visma put the hammer down and Hindley wasn’t able to follow Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar at the exit of La Mongie with 6 km of climbing remaining.
Vingegaard and Pogacar were timed 1’15’’ behind the five leaders 1 km before the top. Johannessen became the first Norwegian to pass the Tourmalet in first position with Guerreiro second again. Van Aert waited for his team’s leader and combined to a front group of eight riders in the downhill: Kwiatkowski, Guerreiro, TH Johannessen, Van Aert, Vingegaard, Pogacar, Powless and Shaw. The yellow jersey group was two minutes behind.
Pogacar On his Own in the last 3 km
Powless was first to surrender in the final ascent to Cauterets-Cambasque. Then Van Aert stopped pulling and sat up 4.5 km before the end, leaving a leading trio at the front but Kwiatkowski couldn’t take part in the finale as it went down to the expected duel between Vingegaard and Pogacar.
While Vingegaard wasn’t looking, Pogacar attacked 2.7 km before the finish. Caught by surprise, the Dane didn’t manage to make it across as the leader of UAE Team Emirates continued to increase his advantage to cross the line 24 seconds ahead of his rival. Tour de France newbie Johannessen rounded out the stage podium. Hindley reached the finish in sixth position 2’39’’ after Pogacar. Vingegaard exited the Pyrenees with the yellow jersey and an advantage of 25’’ over Pogacar and 1’34’’ over Hindley.
