Back to stage 20 : Belfort > Le Markstein Fellering

The 133.5 kilometers of this penultimate stage of the Tour promise to be nervous, especially since the profile offered to the 151 surviving riders does not include a single meter of flat. The game can begin: do "vosges", nothing goes!
In this little game, the first to reveal their hand are the two runners from Lotto-Dstny Campenaerts and De Buyst. From the opening of the curtain orchestrated by the master of ceremonies Christian Prudhomme (director of the Tour de France), the two friends try a sleight of hand by packing their trunks alone, in the Ballon...d'Alsace.
A waste of time... In the descent, they reappear in the eyes of their adversaries and are immediately left behind. Thank you gentlemen for this issue!
A few hectometres later, a group of about twenty units forms at the front. We find there in particular Izagirre and Zingle (Cofidis), the other great attacker of this Tour Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech), Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic). The pace is steady at the front as well as at the head of the peloton, no one is there to put on pearls!
The Col de la Croix des Moinats makes it possible to make a new selection at the front, where only 6 riders play the leading roles: Barguil, Neilands, Van Gils are celebrating!
In this stage, another runner is on a mission. Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) is taking part in his last Tour de France and the Franc-Comtois is riding today at home. He knows these roads by heart. In the most demanding percentages of this difficulty, revolted, over-motivated, transcended, he leaves the peloton and returns alone to the breakaway. A tiger ready to roar!
No time to take a breather, no intermission is offered to the artists of this 110 edition of the Grande Boucle. In the Petit Ballon, Pinot accelerated violently and only Barguil and two other riders managed to maintain a small gap, less than 30 seconds with the Groupama-FDJ climber. In the peloton, the UAE do not make the gallery laugh and print an impressive pace.
Everything will therefore be decided on the slopes of the Col du Platzerwasel. Pinot begins the accession alone, before seeing the return of Barguil in sparkling form, then those of the yellow jersey and the white jersey, among others.
Less than 3 kilometers from the summit, "Wawa" is outdistanced by the leaders of the general classification but generous, he supports Pinot so that this one offers his supporters a last thrill. Together they complete the stage hand in hand. Our Breton takes a sublime 6th place and demonstrates that cycling is a noble sport where respect and mutual aid make fun of the color of the jersey!
A magical step!!!
A small thought for Lafay (Cofidis) forced to abandon following a violent fall in a descent. Good recovery Victor and thank you for the emotions you gave us.
Photo credits: Getty Images and Photo News