Morton sits atop the favorites list here as today should be a pure mountain battle as the peloton heads up to Mont Blanc.
As a reminder, the GC standings are very tight with Areruya leading the way so far based primarily on bonus seconds.
The breakaway is chalk full of strong riders today as the altimeter starts to ascend. KOM leader Hoelgaard, 4th in KOM Budenieks, Rhim, 3rd in KOM Hosek, Prado (3:16 back on GC), Helme, Liphongyu, Kwiatkowski (2:41 back on GC), and Fung make up the group. With 130km remaining and approaching the first cat 1 climb, the gap is 3:15 to the peloton. Xero is forced to pace alone behind for now.
The race finds its way to the top of the Col de Tamie for the first KOM points of the day. The pace has been manageable for the entire breakaway, but there is a clear fight for the points. The race to the line is won by Hosek, followed by 2nd Hoelgaard, 3rd Kwiatkowski, 4th Rhim, 5th Budenieks, and 6th Fung . The gap is also extending as they approach the 100km to go mark and the peloton is 8:20 behind. Xero might be testing the others to see if they’ll contribute - so far, that’s a no.
Col de la Forclaz is the next climb of the day, also giving Cat 1 points. It’s almost 8% average gradient with a downhill section at the midpoint. Hoelgaard is distanced which means the points will all go to the other 8 - a huge opportunity for Budenieks and Hosek.
Hosek is dropped in the final 500m and he misses the points too! Kwiatkowski takes the top points ahead of Prado, Budenieks, Rhim, Helme, Fung, and Liphongyu. Hosek and Hoelgaard are both in no man’s land for most of the descent but Hosek finds his way back to the front. Hoelgaard isn’t so lucky.
The steep climb has also left the peloton at 117 strong already so there are almost 50 people disappointed to be seeing more climbs throughout the day.
The sprint point is not important for the breakaway as they roll through. Hosek is given the honors with Kwiatkowski and Helme the others receiving bonus seconds. The red car in the background represents Hoelgaard’s location 75 seconds back.
Xero Racing still leads the front group and the pacing is working as the front 8 are only 7:00 ahead now. They all reach the food of the Col de la Croix Fry for 12km at 7%. A very steady climb, there could be real differences made if people choose to push the pace. As seen Morton is sitting very close to the front preparing for the remainder of the day.
Polar takes over the peloton’s pacing quickly after pictures turn away and they drop another 37 riders to bring the peloton to just 80. Still, the peloton is stretched out too under the new leadership.
The breakaway is destroyed by the top of this climb with only 3 remaining together over the top. Prado sprints away from Kwiatkowski and Helme for the first points but all three come together quickly. Rhim, Liphongyu and Fung also stay together while Budenieks took the last points.
There’s only a minor descent before the Cat 3 climb of Col des Aravis. Prado drops the other two off his wheel again with Kwiatkowski 2nd and Helme 3rd. Prado holds 6:00 over the peloton as he crests with exactly 50km to go.
The peloton in question… is now down to 28 riders as the pace has been ferocious while the breakaway was fighting up front. Carboni is the one pacing for Choi and they’ve managed to drop a few important names - 12th GC Hirschi and 18th Jorgenson are no longer in the group. Schlegel in 19th is also dropped. Min, (16th) and Cort Nielsen (10th) are also off the pack before the pack heads down the descent.
The 19 riders left in the front group are: Morton, Carboni, Latour, Bongiorno, Azman, Gregaard, Aranburu, Galta, Choi, Faglum Karlsson, Arndt, Inkelaar, Parra Bustamente, Osorio, Aular, Pinot, Areruya, Padun, Pogacar. Hosek has now joined them as he heads backwards.
Again, the only rider of the top ten missing is Cort Nielsen who is 1:44 back of those 19.
The sprint point is uneventful again, but meaningful as Kwiatkowski gets 1st, Prado 2nd, and Helme 3rd. They lead the peloton by 3:05 and the bonus seconds will make a difference in GC for Kwiatkowski and Prado who started less than 3:30 behind.
A 2.9km 10% climb of Cote des Amerands begins with 12 km to go. The three leaders are still away as they head under the 10km banner but the peloton is close behind. All the other members of the breakaway are being caught. Prado pushes the pace for the leading three.
Pinot pushes the pace for ISA - Hexacta in the peloton. Gregaard takes it up right after.
Kwiatkowski gets the penultimate KOM points which could be crucial for the final standings even though the finish also gives points that could push the result toward Areruya. Prado takes 2nd over Helme here. Gregaard, Galta, Morton and Choi pick up the remaining points.
It shows that Hoelgaard still holds the lead and Areruya is unable to take the jersey if he gets the win - nor is any other GC contender. Kwiatkowski can if he takes the stage as well, but a minute over the pack does not seem like enough.
The final climb begins and there’s 13 riders left in the front. Faglum Karlsson, Padun, Bongiorno, Aular, Pogacar, Inkelaar, Pinot, Latour, Areruya, Choi, Morton, Galta and Gregaard (who is still pacing). 55 seconds away from Kwiatkowski in the lead - Prado and Helme between. Le Bettex, the final climb gives us 7.2km at 7.7% average and the steepest slopes are in the final kilometer.
Bongiorno is dropped and Prado + Helme are caught with 6.3km to go - Kwiatkowski only 16 seconds ahead.
Kwiatkowski is caught… and the gap opens up! Gregaard is pushing for Galta ahead of Morton, Choi, Prado and Kwiatkowski. Areruya is forced the pace the rest! 6km to go!
Gregaard drops off and Galta goes on the attack - Morton and Choi right in the wheel! They hold 20 seconds over Areruya in the main group which is down to 9. Faglum Karlsson (4th) and Pinot are detached from the favorites.
Latour now leads the back group as he sees his chances of winning falling away. The gap is only 13 seconds between the front three and the remaining 6. Inkelaar has fallen back to the Faglum Karlsson group. 3.5km to go!
Just under 2km to go and the groups are the same. Morton leads Galta and Choi - 12 seconds ahead of Areruya, Latour, Aular, Padun, and Pogacar. Faglum Karlsson the best of the rest pushing to minimize the gap.
1.3km to go and the gap is finally bridged. Latour is hanging a tad off the back, but everyone else is together. Choi holding the lead for now. Pogacar looks sprightly.
700m to go and Areruya has put in a burst as he went under the flamme rouge. Morton and Choi seem most prepared to follow while Padun and Aular can’t hold the pace. Pogacar strong, but no longer looking for the win. Latour and Galta have been gapped.
Morton now leads Areruya with Choi on the opposite side. They’re all absolutely spent based on their body language. Pogacar is trying to claw them back and Latour has found his way into that group of chasers. 300m to go and the win should come from the front three.
Morton takes the win! Choi 2nd and Areruya 3rd! Morton takes the 20 bonus seconds and Areruya 8… meaning this race should go to Morton! Choi with a fantastic race and should jump a spot or two.
Latour 4th, Pogacar 5th, Padun 6th, Aular 7th. Latour will hold onto the podium we believe on preliminary results. Galta is barely behind this group for 8th before the gap gets wide.
Pinot looks ahead at Faglum Karlsson who finishes 9th - Pinot 10th and Gregaard 11th - what an awesome result for him. Inkelaar 12th and should move up a spot or two as well.
Kwiatkowski, Prado and Bongiorno take the remaining top 15 spots. The two breakaway artists should be proud. Cort Nielsen finds his way home in 20th on the day.
Morton takes the stage! A great individual win!
The stage win means its a GC win as well for the CycleYorkshire star. Only 4 seconds ahead of Areruya.
Hoelgaard did enough to take the KOM jersey!
The points jersey was Areruya’s the second he started sprinting for flat stages
Pogacar is the youth leader by a mile!
Carlsberg - Danske Bank did a fantastic job, especially in the final stage to earn the team classification.
