The day before the Tour’s first rest stage proved to be a highly charged rollercoaster. As overall leader, Tadej Pogacar chose who would be allowed in the breakaway and who would not, the worn out peloton was ready for the day to be over.
The unbearable heat matched with the speed of both the breakaway and peloton proved every rider was ready to wrap this day up early. From Malemort to Ussel, the hills were calm compared to the intensity of the riders.
At one thrilling point, Tom Pidcock’s gears broke on him in the breakaway. After a few swift kicks, the gears were fixed, and he was back with the leaders.
The final breakaway included the likes of Mathieu Van Der Poel, Tobias Johannessen, Tom Pidcock, and Alex Baudin. The peloton nipped at their heels the entire day. So much so, the peloton filled with the leaders, finished 6 seconds behind today’s stage winner.
As they approached the final turn, no one would dare challenge MVDP. Sure enough, he held off not only his breakaway group, but the entire peloton as Fillipo Ganna hauled the rest of the cyclists behind him.
Chapter one of this tour has been thrilling to say the least. Is the overall winner already decided ? Will the rest day bring out some surprisingly strong legs ? We will find out in Stage 10.
