The last stage, and not an easy one! Will Jura be able to keep the yellow jersey in the team? Let’s find out quickly.
At the foot of the Alt de Bracons (1st cat.), we have a leading group of nineteen riders. The climb is 9.5 km long and has a harder second half. The names up front are Schultz (BNZ), Ivanov (Oktal), Molard (Bonduelle) Barbero (Caja), Le Roux (Bianchi), Vliegen (Colombini), Armirail (Bordeaux), Croes (Podium), Lopez (Volcanica), Pruus (Tafjord), Piaskowy (Oktal), Plapp (Staffbase), Bonnin (Bonduelle), Heymes (HelloFresh), Zordan (Bianchi), Fortunato (Bianchi), Mendoza (Volcanica), Sleen (Tryg) and Kelly (Podium). No Indosat riders up front, they are trying to close the gap. Croes and Le Roux are tied for third in the KoM-classification, both with ten points less than Le Court, who tried to join the break but seems to be feeling yesterday’s efforts.
Sleen and Kelly are quickly dropped. With 3.5 km to climb, Le Roux, Mendoza and Armirail are also already done for, whereas Gall is trying to reach the leading group of 14.
Schultz accelerates with 2 km to climb. Zero KoM-points for him so far, but theoretically he could still win the classification. Croes reacts.
The BNZ rider is the first to reach the top. 16 KoM-points for him.
Wow! Croes only just manages to stay ahead of the Bianchi duo of Zordan and Fortunato, which means Croes is now two points ahead of teammate Le Court in the KoM. Leading group split in many pieces already, whereas the peloton comes over the top at 7’45” of the leaders already. 118 km to the finish line.
Back to 15 leaders in the descent though, including Gall. 103 km to the finish line as the leaders start their ascent of the Alt de Coubet (1st cat.), a 13 km climb which is continuously at around 5.5%. Peloton already back at 5’50”.
Ten leaders left with 5 km to climb: Schultz, Piaskowy, Croes, Mendoza, Zordan, Fortunato, Ivanov, Bonnin, Gall and Vliegen.
Ivanov wins the KoM-sprint after a great lead-out by teammate Piaskowy, but another second for Croes means the Catalunyan polka-dots are getting closer and closer to the Carribean! Mendoza, Gall and Vliegen look like they have to let the other seven leaders go from here on, whereas the peloton follows at 7’45” again, with 83 km to go. Best positioned rider in the leading group is Piaskowy at +- 6’30”, with Zordan and Schultz both around 7’45” in the GC.
In the descent most dropped riders come back to the front again, so we’re back with a leading group of fiteen riders at the start of the HC Alt de la Creueta climb of 19 km. 58 km to the finish line from here on, and a peloton of 115 riders trails the peloton by only four minutes now. Binance, Hyundai and McCormick working over there.
Piaskowy sets the pace in the leading group. 10 km to climb and 50 km to the finish as only eight others are able to follow: Croes, Zordan, Fortunato, Ivanov, Bonnin, Schultz, Mendoza and Lopez. The peloton at three minutes, as McCormick is setting the pace there, trying to smuther Masnada and his team.
The leading group is thinning out. Piaskowy, Mendoza and Lopez have to let the other six go with 7 km to climb. McCormick keeps the gap around three minutes now, as the peloton has been reduced to 88 riders.
5 km to climb, Croes is dropped as well. Five leaders remaining, a peloton of 63 still at three minutes.
3 km to climb for the leaders, as there is some movement in the peloton, or what’s left of it! Schlegel attacks, Alarcon and Gilanipoor try to answer!
Hoehn shuts down the attack! McCormick really believing in Warbasse’s chances today!
Immediately another attack follows, but let’s see what the situation at the top is first. Schultz winst he KoM-sprint ahead of Ivanov, with a bit further Bonnin in third.
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At two minutes we find the Bianchi duo of Fortunato and Zordan, but more importantly, at three minutes, we find a group of favourites without yellow jersey Masnada! The yellow jersey and Warbasse are 30” behind Pedrero, Schlegel, Talansky, Alarcon and Gilanipoor, with Schlegel the best positioned at 1’34” of Masnada in the GC. Important news for Podium Ambition though, as Croes can be sure of the win in the KoM-classification!
27 km to go, as Warbasse and Masnada get joined by Stüssi, Kozhatayev, Antunes, Potocki, Petrovski and Mannion. Downhill from here on until the foot of the final climb. This group is 27” behind the group Schlegel, and 3’05” behind the head of the race.
The two chasing groups come back together quickly, and the pace drops! Good news for our two leaders, Schultz and Ivanov? They have 3 minutes with 20 km to go.
Mannion wants to go faster, and that’s what he does. Only eight others are able to follow his downhill acceleration: Alarcon, Schlegel, Potocki, Gilanipoor, Kozhatayev, Masnada, Antunes and Warbasse.
Warbasse at the back and constantly having to close these little gaps, not an ideal situation!
The two leaders started the La Molina (1st cat.) climb, 8.6 km at 5.5%, with the second half being the hardest. Looks like Ivanov is suffering in Schultz’ wheel!
Alarcon and Schlegel with a move in the group of favourites at 2’30”, as Warbasse looks unable to close the gap between him and that group!
As the two get caught by Gilanipoor and the others, Warbasse is able to reach the tail of the group. Schlegel immediately accelerates again, using the Bianchi duo of Fortunato and Zordan as a springboard!
7 km to go for our two leaders now! They have 1’20” over Schlegel, Zordan and Bonnin, and an additional 35” over the group of favourites, led by Kozhatayev.
Would you have a look at that! Looks like Schlegel overestimated himself, as he is being left behind by breakaway rider Zordan! The Italian now at one minute of the two leaders, with 20” behind him Schlegel, at an additional 25” Kozhatayev, Gilanipoor and yellow jersey Masnada, and at an additional 17” the other favourites!
Final five km for the two leaders! They have 45” over Zordan, 1’15” over Schlegel and Bonnin, 1’24” over Kozhatayev, Gilanipoor and yellow jersey Masnada, and 1’33” over Antunes, Talansky, Potocki, Warbasse, Alarcon and Petrovski!
Groups 3,4 and 5 come together with 4 km to climb! The leading duo now with 37” over Zordan and an additional 36” over the next eleven riders!
Iranian champion Gilanipoor attacks and gets some freedom, as he really isn’t a big factor in the GC! We see that the two leaders Ivanov and Schultz have increased their lead over Zordan a bit: 50” with 3 km to climb! 15’ further is Gilanipoor, and the favourites behind are really looking at each other now, as they are at 1’50” of the leading duo all of a sudden!
Time to shine for Schultz, as he leaves Ivanov behind with 1.9 km to the finish line! Gilanipoor has 55” to make up, which seems a lot.
Pedrero attacking in the group of favourites, followed by number two in GC Antunes! Masnada can’t let him get away further than 32 seconds!
As Schultz enters the final km with a 21” lead over Ivanov and 40 additional seconds over Gilanipoor, Masnada seems to be saving his yellow jersey!
The yellow jersey even setting the pace now, which causes Warbasse (3rd) and Petrovski (5th) to get dropped under the flamme rouge! The American feeling the ‘wasted’ efforts of the downhill section!
And here is today’s winner! Great ride by Schultz!
At more than a minute, Ivanov is a nice second.
Gilanipoor just manages to defend his third place today ahead of Talansky (4th), a strong yellow jersey Masnada (5th) and Kozhatayev (6th).
Schlegel comes in seventh ahead of Antunes (8th), Alarcon (9th), Potocki (10th), Pedrero (11th), Stüssi (12th), Zordan (13th), Laas (14th), Warbasse (15th) and Petrovski (16th).
In the GC, this means the yellow jersey is obviously won by Masnada, but we see some changes behind him. Kozhatayev jumps to second, while Antunes drops to third. Still a great GC place considered with a stage win and second in points definitely make this race a success for PCT outfit Binance.
Schlegel, who won stage one and wins the green jersey, finishes fourth ahead of a disappointed Warbasse. The rest of the top-10 in the GC go to Talansky (6th), Potocki (7th), Petrovski (8th), who wins the team classification with OktalPharma, Alarcon (9th) and Stüssi (10th), who was used as a domestique, whereas most people might have expected him to win Catalunya himself. Thanks for being here!
