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Egan Bernal’s defence of the Tour de France was diminished to cinders Sunday because the Colombian suffered a meltdown on the primary main mountain of the race, whereas the general chief Primoz Roglic denied any solutions he was doping. With three huge mountains, the stage itself was received by 21-year-old rookie Tadej Pogacar, however the extent of the 2019 champion’s astonishing collapse on the ultimate climb is the story of the Tour up to now. “I lost three years of my life on that climb, I gave it everything,” stated Bernal. “But I just couldn’t keep up.”
Jumbo-Visma’s Roglic retained the general lead after the concluding 17km ascent of the Grand Colombier, which he ascended with 4 teammates.
Ineos captain Bernal slipped to eight minutes and 25 seconds behind within the yellow jersey standings in 13th place.
Ineos, previously often known as Sky, have received seven of the final eight Tours led by such luminaries as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, and this jaw-dropping defeat marks one thing of a turning level for the British staff.
Dutch staff Jumbo led the peloton up the Grand Colombier’s demanding climb of their yellow and black outfits with a relentless excessive tempo, however Roglic dismissed any suspicions of doping from the media.
“At 6 a.m. this morning I had a complete doping control, and just had another one right now,” Roglic stated, wanting flabbergasted when requested.
“There is nothing to hide from my side. You can definitely trust me,” Roglic added in his typical deadpan supply.
Third on the day behind Australian Richie Porte, Roglic attacked first, however his 21-year outdated compatriot had the sting over the ultimate 50m.
“Unfortunately I was a bit short on the last climb, but it was a great day for us,” stated the Jumbo chief, a former ski jumper who got here to biking late.
Roglic leads Pogacar by 40 seconds with six levels remaining, with Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran of Education First in third at 1min 34sec, whereas Miguel Angel Lopez and Adam Yates spherical out the highest 5.
Pogacar ‘in the actual world’
Pogacar stated he had bided his time and simply stored up.
“I need to be conservative, the perfect scenario would have been to take the yellow jersey, but we live in the real world.
“I do not know what occurred to Bernal, however Jumbo set a horrible tempo and a few riders paid for it,” the UAE leader explained.
Another casualty was Nairo Quintana, who also dropped out of the running for the overall lead.
“It was sizzling and all three climbs have been actually onerous,” Pogacar explained.
Asked how he felt about the Tour’s decisive penultimate stage 20 next Saturday, an individual time trial run over 30km of rolling terrain before a 6km climb up the Planche des Belles Filles, Pogacar said he could hardly wait.
“I did the recon of the Planche however that was only a trial run. It’ll be totally different after three weeks’ racing. I’m actually wanting ahead to it although.”
The race left Lyon with 157 riders, some of whom had their dreaded nasal swabs early in the day as the final Covid-19 testing round of this Tour started. It will be concluded on the rest day on Monday.
The first ascent of the Montee de la Selle de Fromentel was the steepest and Ineos rider Luke Rowe, no wilting violet, shook his head in disbelief and laughed during one 18 percent section.
Sprinters and best friends, double stage winner Caleb Ewan and green jersey wearer Sam Bennett, kept each other company in a haggard struggle up the hill already several minutes adrift.
Promoted
Often described as the Giant of the Jura, the Grand Colombier was alternatively dubbed “a superb mountain” due to the breadth of the highway providing a lot room for manoeuvre.
But it proved the wreck of Ineos on Sunday as Bernal slipped off the again of the pack with 15km nonetheless to climb. Few had predicted nevertheless the extent of his colossal seven-minute loss over the rest of the course.
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