222 kilometers, 5,400 meters of elevation gain, an arrival at the summit… the 15th stage of the Tour of Italy was undoubtedly one of the major events of these three weeks on the transalpine roads. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had this day checked off his calendar, and as the Slovenian gets everything he wants on this Girohe won in Livigno and won his fourth stage victory in this 107th edition of the Tour of Italy ! A single attack, occurring 14 kilometers from the finish, allowed the pink jersey to make the difference over its main opponents, who took a huge beating this Sunday.
Tadej Pogacar was once again the strongest this Sunday
Romain Bardet performs, Geraint Thomas and Daniel Felipe Martinez do the right thing
Last survivor of the morning breakaway and joined by Pogacar just 2 kilometers from the finish, Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) took second place in this 15th stage (+ 29″) and signed his best result since his return to the peloton at the start of the year. Also present at the front, the German George Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) completed the podium of the day, then it was Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) who then crossed the line, the Frenchman therefore finishing second among the favorites on the queen stage of this Giro…2’47” from the winner of the day!
Arriving just after the Auvergne, the Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez (BORA-hansgrohe) and the British Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) consolidate their place on the podium, the two men having taken 8 seconds from the Australian Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), a little tight in the final wall. In the general classification, after this new demonstration of force, Tadej Pogacar is now 6’41” ahead of Geraint Thomas, 6’56” on Daniel Felipe Martinez and 7’43” on Ben O’Connor.
Thymen Arensman seriously approaches Antonio Tiberi, Alex Baudin cracks
In difficulty in the last kilometers, Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) retains his fifth place and the white jersey for best youngster, but the threat Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) is becoming more and more pressing, the Dutchman – who is clearly gaining strength on this Giro – being only 18 seconds behind the Italian overall. Thanks to its very good performance, Romain Bardet gains a place at the expense of Filippo Zana (Team Jayco AlUla) and is thus in seventh place on the eve of the second day of rest. The day was much more difficult for the other Frenchman in the top 10, namely Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), who was quickly left behind and lost big during this 15th stage.
Summary of the last 80 kilometers
At the foot of Passo del Mortirolo (12.6 km at 7.6% / max 16%), third of the five listed difficulties of this 15th stage, the race situation is as follows: Tobias Bayer (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Davide Ballerini, Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Harrison Wood (Cofidis), Giulio Pellizzari And Alessandro Tonelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) are 4’40” ahead of the peloton, while a group made up of… 45 riders is 50 seconds behind the six leaders!
In this one, we find in particular Tobias Foss, Jhonatan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Maximilian Schachmann (BORA-hangrohe), Simon Geschke (Cofidis), Jefferson Alexander Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost), Laurence Pithie, Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), Andrea Bagioli, Juan Pedro Lopez (Lidl-Trek), Nairo Quintana, Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar Team), Julian Alaphilippe, Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step), Caleb Ewan, Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla), Matteo Fabbro, Davide Piganzoli (Team Polti Kometa), Jan Tratnik, Attila Valter (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Matteo Trentin And Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team).
Nairo Quintana alone in the lead, Tadej Pogacar puts on his usual show
It was 14 kilometers from the finish that the expected attack on the pink jersey came! Placed behind Pogacar at the time of his attack, Thymen Arensman And Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) do not react, unlike Daniel Felipe Martinez (BORA-hansgrohe), which also places an acceleration. Failing to make the connection with Pogacar and seeing that his adversaries, appearing in a group led by Valentin Paret-Painter (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), are just behind him, Martinez gets up and fits into this group.
In the front, Nairo Quintana joined George Steinhauser 4 kilometers from the summit, then it distances it a few hundred meters further. Unfortunately for the Colombian, Tadej Pogacar goes much faster than him and the gap is therefore reduced at great speed. The junction does not, however, take place before the summit, Quintana still 40 seconds ahead of Pogacar 9 kilometers from the finish. The group composed of Geraint Thomas, Daniel Felipe Martinez, Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) or Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) is much further away since all these men reach the summit 3′ behind Quintanaand therefore 2’20” on Pogacar ! Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) is not in this group, and for good reason! The Frenchman attacked a little before the summit and was ahead of him by 40 seconds when diving into the very short descent of Passo di Foscagno.
Tadej Pogacar deposes Nairo Quintana
There remains the final climb towards Livigno, 4.7 km long and with an average slope of 7.7%. Tadej Pogacar takes a little over 2 kilometers to catch up Nairo Quintanahe passes him without a glance and flies towards a fourth stage victory. More information to follow…