2023-07-22 22:59:00
On the penultimate day of the Tour, six final climbs over just 133 kilometers ensured a spectacular showdown in the Vosges in front of enthusiastic spectators on the way from Belfort to Le Markstein.
Even if the yellow jersey was already taken, the final mountain stage of the 110th Tour de France offered plenty of spectacle, even if the winner would have been the second choice of most fans.
Three things that stood out:
1.) Pogacar crashes that Pinot-Party
“No driver has ever received such a farewell on the Tour – not even Richard Virenque,” marveled Eurosport expert Bernie Eisel in view of the euphoric crowds of fans on the 20th stage. For an hour, she and her darling Thibaut Pinot could dream of the crowning glory of the Frenchman’s last tour at his home game.
First in a leading group, then as a soloist in a trellis up the Petit Ballon, the climber seemed to be turning back time. But one thing shattered the dream scenario: Tadej Pogacar was not in the script, the Slovenian really wanted to come back with a win. He didn’t let his helpers let the gap grow by more than a minute, attacked in the final and caught up with Pinot a little later.
In the end, the 33-year-old was left with seventh place of the day, lots of cheering and a few tears as well as an appearance on the podium as the “most combative driver”. Ultimately, it was almost fitting for Pinot’s career that there was no victory at the end – triumph and tragedy had always alternated with him.
His final words: “It was the best stage of my career in front of the best fans in the world.”
goosebump mood! Leader Pinot drives through a sea of fans
2.) Ciccone – a winner without triumph
It could have been a gripping three-way battle on the last mountain stage, but it turned out to be a triumph: Giulio Ciccone became the mountain king of the 2023 Tour de France in the Vosges almost without a fight.
His mathematically last rivals Felix Gall and Jonas Vingegaard showed no interest in the mountain points, while the Italian and his team Lidl-Trek made every effort to ensure that the 28-year-old was able to secure the first four of the six mountain classifications of the day and was thus the king of climbing on the Col de lagorge.
Ciccone rejoiced at this pass as if he had won a stage – and that made the dilemma of his success clear: because he was not granted a day’s victory in the mountains and nobody will see him as the best climber of this tour. Ciconne doesn’t have to apologize for that, it just makes it clear once again that the organizers have to think about something for the regulations, against which new approaches have been constantly tested since Anthony Charteau’s victory in 2010.
For Ciccone, however, after missing the start of the Giro due to Corona, it was a great success after he had already secured the mountain jersey at the Tour of Italy in 2019.
Giulio Ciccone cheers at the Tour de France
Fotocredit: Getty Images
3.) Twin power rewarded twice
It was one of the images of this tour as twin brothers Adam and Simon Yates went together in the final of this 20th stage in pursuit of the lead around Pogacar, Felix Gall and Jonas Vingegaard. And their efforts were rewarded: They closed the gap to the trio and so Adam was able to perfectly prepare the sprint and his captain Pogacar’s victory on the day. while Simon moved up one place in the overall standings to fourth, right behind his brother.
It was also clear on the last mountain stage that Adam Yates was the secret MVP of the Tour: from his stage win at the opening event in Bilbao to the final climb three weeks later in the Vosges, he was in top form and UAE’s main asset. The fact that he will be third on the podium in Paris – a position he had never achieved before as team captain – more than impressively underlines the class of the Briton.
Brothers Adam and Simon Yates on stage 20 of the Tour de France
Fotocredit: Getty Images
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