Finally the rinse-repeat outcome of the final stage being held in the Pyrenees changed today, and early attacker Dutchman Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) managed to fend off Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) to take the stage win.
The Tour had taken on too much of a rote outcome in the last few days, with the simple grin of Pogacar daily capturing the eye of the cameras. Don’t be mistaken, he still holds a commanding lead in the overall GC by more than 4 minutes over his arch rival, Jonas Vingegaard, and wears the Yellow Jersey.
And unless something dramatic happens in the coming stages, he is likely to be atop the podium in Paris. But today Arensman, part of a strong breakaway that emerged on the climb to the Col du Tourmalet, beat him at his game by staying away unpredictably through some of the toughest climbs in this year’s Tour.
Already a winner at Hautacam and Peyragudes, the Slovenian Tour leader got the better of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final meters of the climb to Superbagnères. But he had to finish for second to Arensman this time.
Arensman tamed the Col d’Aspin and attacked his rivals on the ascent of the Col de Peyresourde. After a 37-km solo ride, he was able to celebrate his second Grand Tour stage win, having previously conquered Sierra Nevada at La Vuelta 2022, on a day that saw him be the only early attacker to resist the return of the bigger GC contenders. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is now the third man in the overall standings.
Sadly Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) suffering from exhaustion, retired early in the stage. Cameras dogged him as he waved them off, finally climbing into his team car.
The final stage in the Pyrenees is the most brutal, with four major climbs to tackle – Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, Superbagnères – and 4,950 metres of elevation en route to Superbagnères. Couple the altitude with the weather which was cold and rainy at times, the riders handled a double brutality of climbing and shivering on the way down. After Bryan Coquard withdrew due to a hand injury, 170 riders started in Pau.
Milan wants the intermediate sprint
Despite the drizzle falling on the peloton, there are many contenders for the breakaway. The ultra-mountainous profile does not particularly suit Jonathan Milan, but the intermediate sprint just before the climb to Tourmalet encouraged him to attack.
He didn’t succeed, nor did Valentin Madouas, Fred Wright, Michael Woods and Bruno Armirail, whose moves were systematically reeled in, either by Visma-Lease au Bike or by Lidl-Trek, who took control of the race.
Skjelmose and Evenepoel abandon the race
The American team controlled the bunch for Jonathan Milan, who sprinted for the 20 points in the sprint (km 70.1). But behind them, their Danish climber Mattias Skjelmose had already suffered a heavy fall at km 53. He was forced to withdraw.
The first slopes of the Tourmalet climb shredded the sprinters, and much more surprisingly Remco Evenepoel, who was among the first to be dropped under the pace set by UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the head of the Yellow Jersey group.
Lenny Martinez goes solo
Meanwhile, an attack develops 15 kilometers from the summit in two stages. First, a group consisting of Rubio, Muhlberger (Movistar), Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), V. Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step), O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla), Healy (EF Education Easypost) and Johannessen (Uno-X) got away.
And then a counter-attack developed with American Sepp Kuss, Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike), Ca. Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers), Vlasov (RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Storer (Tudor), Costiou (Arkéa-B&B), Mas, Castrillo (Movistar), Higuita (XDS Astana), Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Woods (Israel-Premier Tech).
The polka dot jersey went solo for the last 6 kilometers of ascent. Over the top, he has opened a gap of 1’45’’ over his closest pursuers and 3’30’ over the yellow jersey peloton.
Martinez caught on the descent from Aspin
Despite losing half his advantage on the descent following the Tourmalet, the polka dot jersey (Martinez) is still on his own over the top of the second climb, Col d’Aspin (km 119.3). But the threat from Sepp Kuss and V. Paret-Peintre, who had set off in pursuit, materialized as they caught him at the bottom of the descent to Arreau (km 131).
The other chasers did not give up, and as they entered the climb to the Col de Peyresourde, the groups came together again, with eight riders remaining. Thymen Arensman proved to be the most inspired and strongest on this climb, attacking 4.5 kilometers from the summit.
Arensman goes solo
The Dutchman crossed the Col de Peyresourde with a 1’20’’ lead over his closest rivals, including Martinez, who secured the polka dot jersey by taking second place, and 3’30’ over the Yellow Jersey group, which began its chase under the impetus of UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Entering the final climb, the Ineos Grenadiers rider keeps his hopes alive with a 2’15‘’ lead over his closest pursuers and 3’05’’ over the yellow jersey group. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was the first of the GC contenders to attack, with 8 km to go. Then Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) set off 4 km later.
Vingegaard and Pogacar traded attacks until the Slovenian got the better of his Danish rival in the final stretch, opening a gap of 4’’ on the line. But Arensman had already finished a minute earlier, for a maiden Tour victory in his maiden participation. Fifth on the day, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) takes the white jersey as well as the third place in the overall standings left vacant by Evenepoel.
