The consistent climbing and heavy roads of the Massif Central dashed the potential customers of French set Guillaume Martin and Romain Bardet, and the super-steep summit finish on the Puy Mary saw Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar get handfuls of seconds over their rivals. After Ineos Grenadiers did the pace-making through much of the final hours of the race, Egan Bernal could not react to the relocation from his Slovenian competitors, losing 38 seconds.
After a peaceful couple of days in the Trip de Frances GC battle, the yellow jersey competitors roared back into action on phase 13 Friday.
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Up ahead of them, Daniel Martínez had taken a sensational phase triumph, outfoxing a set of Bora-Hansgrohe riders on the final climb to reward an aggressive day of racing by the team.
Theres a lot to discuss, so lets roundtable!
Did Ineos Grenadiers get it wrong today, or did Bernal just not have the legs?
Jim Cotton (@jim_c_1985): I think its mostly the latter. Pogačar was separated for a very long time, but was able to surf the wheels of Ineos Grenadiers first, and Jumbo-Visma after that, and still punch clear with Roglič in the last. Jumbo-Visma turned the screw in the last 10 kilometers however you would anticipate Bernal would have had the ability to conceal in the wheels and follow Roglič and Pogačar when they broke away from the group. Is this the twinkles of a crack? Lets see.
Bernal slipped to third general. Picture: Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesFred Dreier (@freddrier): It appears like Bernal just didnt have the legs on the steepest sections of the climb to follow Roglič. Credit Ineos Grenadiers with having the legs to do some damage on the front in the back half of the stage. The team just isnt as strong as Jumbo-Visma, and Bernal actually seems to be a few watts behind Roglič, specifically on the steep things.
Now that were about midway through the Tour, it seems clear to me that Ineos Grenadiers does not have the firepower to support Bernals defense of his Tour title. Bernal didnt have the legs today, most likely since hes not getting the assistance he needs throughout the race.
Should EF Pro Cycling go all-in for stages, or continue pushing in the GC for Urán?
Daniel Martínez held back 2 Bora-Hansgrohe riders in the last. Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesDan: Not yet, however I think if Urán wastes time over the next 2 stages its time to hunt stages solely. Clearly, theres lots of talent on the group totally efficient in animating phases, but with Urán about a minute down, GC contention will begin sneaking away over the weekend if Urán cant hang with Roglič and Pogačar, especially if Nairo Quintana continues to ride strong and Egan Bernal continues to fade.
Jumbo-Visma turned the screw in the last 10 kilometers however you would expect Bernal would have been able to conceal in the wheels and follow Roglič and Pogačar when they broke away from the group. Certainly, theres plenty of talent on the group totally capable of animating stages, but with Urán about a minute down, GC contention will start creeping away over the weekend if Urán cant hang with Roglič and Pogačar, especially if Nairo Quintana continues to ride strong and Egan Bernal continues to fade.
Romain Bardet lost 7 locations Friday, his GC over. Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesJim: The present top three of Bernal, Roglič, and Pogačar will still hold the top slots, though not necessarily in that order. I believe the primary distinction will be what happens in the group of Urán, Porte, Landa, Lopez, Yates, and Quintana, currently 4th to ninth place. If anyones going to make a big relocation in that bunch, I d say several of Landa, Porte, and Lopez will claw back time on the rest.
The question is whether Bernal sticks around in the top-5, or if he falls out completely. On Monday I expect to see Roglič still in yellow with Pogačar in second, then a big space back to Bernal, who might lose another minute.
If he continues his stable riding at the Tour hes in a perfect location to ride into third location in general, ought to Bernal continue to fail. I think that EFs Tour is now a rousing success after Dani Martínez phase win.
Jim: EF Pro Cycling showed today and in previous phases that they have the skill to go on the front foot and fight in the breakaways. While I dont see Urán beating Bernal, Roglič, or Pogačar in a mano-a-mano fight, his team certainly does not want to abandon him. I state the go for a couple of select phases and continue to back Rigo.
While I do not see Urán beating Bernal, Roglič, or Pogačar in a mano-a-mano battle, his group certainly does not want to abandon him. Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesJim: The current leading 3 of Bernal, Roglič, and Pogačar will still hold the leading slots, though not necessarily in that order. On Monday I anticipate to see Roglič still in yellow with Pogačar in second, then a big gap back to Bernal, who might lose another minute.
Roglič and Pogačar appear to be on a different level than everyone else, so I anticipate those spaces to open up even more after the weekend is said and done. Its looking progressively likely to me that Quintana has podium-worthy legs this year.
We saw a shuffle in the GC with Martin and Bardet now both well out of contention– how do you see things by Monday, after 2 additional hard stages this weekend?
