Guzet
150.5 km
Saturday 13 September
Start at 12:35. 73 riders at the start. Non-starter: 95. Frenchman Jeannesson wins on his own after the toughest stage of the event. Bakelants only just keeps his yellow jersey while Jeannesson closes in on the podium.
At kilometre 6, Gautier, Kadri (FRA), Klemme (GER), Van der Velde (NED), Eggli (SUI) and Jansevan–Rensbourg (RSA) break away from the pack. They manage a significant gap and make it to the top of the first climb with a 1’55 lead (in the following order: Klemme, Van der Velde, Eggli). At the top of the Côte du Bois du Grand Chemin (km 30), Klemme, Van der Velde and Gautier enjoy a 2’05 lead over the pack. At the first intermediate sprint at Mirepoix (km 50), Kadri leads ahead of Eggli and Gautier while the pack moves closer at 1’10. At kilometre 55, Fonte, Busato, Trotta, Gallopin, Gretsch, Schafer, Kibur, Pudans, Venter take off on a counter-attack. They reach the second intermediate sprint at Lavelanet, km 67,5) with a 1’15 deficit, a sprint won by Kadri ahead of Eggli and Gautier. The chasing group maintains the gap while the main pack suffers a maximum deficit of 3’35 at kilometre 75. The gap drops down to 2’ at the bottom of the Port de Lers.
In the first kilometres of the climb up the Port de Lers, several attacks occur while only two ridxers remain in the lead: Gautier et Van der Velde with a 20’’ advantage over Kadri, 30’’ over Gretsch and Pudans, 45’’ over Pirazzi and 1’ over the yellow jersey group. Kadri then loses ground while Pirazzi and Jeannesson catch up with Gretsch and Pudans and then the front group. Gradually the pace eases up and Jeannesson leads on his own with one kilometre to go from the top. Behind the yellow jersey group breaks apart. Bakelants is dropped behind while Costa, Caruso, Taaramae, Amador, Duarte and Pantano catch up with the front men. Just behind Coppel and Stetina hang on. At the top, Jeannesson leads the way ahead of Duarte, Caruso, Taaramae, Costa, Pantano, Amador and Coppel.
In the climb up the Col d’Agnes, Jeannesson leads ahead of Costa, Taaramae, Amador and Pantano at 5’’, Caruso and Wiss are at 30’’, Bakelants at 1’ and Stetina at 1’20. At the top, Jeannesson keeps a 30’’ lead over Pantano, Costa, Amador and Taramae, 45’’ over Wiss and 1’30 over Coppel, Bakelants, Fuchs and Vangaderen.
In the downhill, Kunshin catches up with Jeannesson and takes on the climb up the Col de la Trappe on his own with a 10” lead. With ten kilometres to go, Jeannesson takes command of the race again while Kunshin is 10’’ adrift. Costa, Taaramae, Amador, Wiss and Pantano are at 1’25 and Bakelants at 2’. At the top of the Col de la Trappe (km143), Jeannesson has a 30’’ advantage over Kunshin while Pantano, Wiss, Taaramae, Costa and Amador are 1’55 adrift, Bakelants and Caruso are at 2’35 and Coppel at 2’45.
In the final climb up to Guzet, Jeannesson increases his lead. He crosses the finish line with a 1’04 advantage over Kunshin, 1’06 over Costa. In the GC, Bakelants keepes his leader’s yellow jersey with a 36’’ lead over Costa and 42’’ over Jeannesson.
“I had noted this stage down since the start of the race. In the final climb, I was happy to be on my own because it allowed me to ride at my own pace. I wasn’t really aiming at a good position in the GC or the polka-dot jersey. But it’s a bonus that pleases me. It’s a special moment because it’s my first real success on the line”.