14 hours ago
3
Kaden Groves of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team won the penultimate stage of the Tour de France, from Nantua to Pontarlier, as Tadej Pogacar safely negotiated what is expected to be the final meaningful stage of this year’s race.
With the closing stage in Paris on Sunday potentially subject to neutralisation, due to the threat of rain, the Slovenian is now on the threshold of achieving a fourth win in six years.
With many teams still desperately seeking a stage win, the competition to make the day’s breakaway was ferocious, with risky attacks and last-ditch moves peppering the final kilometres of racing.
On a rolling route, through the Ain, Jura and Doubs, the last hour of which was drenched by a torrential downpour, a crash 21km from the finish changed the outcome completely.
The decisive action came on the descent of the final climb, the Côte de Longeville, 24km from Pontarlier. After a lone attack from Harry Sweeny of Education EasyPost was reeled in, the local rider, Romain Grégoire, of Groupama-FDJ took the initiative.
But on a tight left-hand bend, made slick by the rain, Iván Romeo, of Movistar, and Grégoire came down at speed and slid into a concrete kerb. The French rider was able to remount and chase, but Romeo was left nursing his wounds.
In the aftermath, a group of three, including Groves, moved clear, with the Australian then opting to attack alone 16km from the finish.
The 26-year-old increased his advantage in the final kilometres to win by almost a minute and add his first Tour stage win to past successes in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.
This report will be updated.
