An exceptional duo between Romain Bardet and Frank Van den Broek
Romain Bardet (DSM – Firmenich PostNL) initiated an attack on the San Leo climb (4.6 km at 7.7% average, 2nd category) 50 km from the finish, to join the breakaway, which already included his Dutch teammate Frank Van den Broek since the start of the race. The two teammates then joined forces to successively defeat the Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Pro) and French Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), in order to find themselves alone in the lead 40 km from the finish.
The two leaders were 1 min 30 sec ahead of the peloton 20 km from the finish. But the gap continued to melt like snow in the sun over the kilometers, dropping to 20 seconds ahead 3 km from the finish, then to 10 seconds 1 km from the line.
But that was without counting on the determination of the two men, who didn’t give up despite the peloton returning to full speed. The last seconds of the race were unbreathable, and Frank Van den Broek, like a great lord, lifted his foot to offer victory to the 33-year-old Frenchman, who will be able to wear the yellow jersey for the first time in his career tomorrow. Romain Bardet’s tears at the finish will remain engraved in the most beautiful images of this Tour de France.
Also worth noting is the fine race of another Frenchman, Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), present in the day’s breakaway for 150 km. Author of great efforts in the climbs, he unfortunately suffered the pace of the Bardet-Van den Broek duo in the Montemaggio climb (4.3 km at 6.6%, 3rd category), 40 km from the finish. The exhausted 2023 French champion finished the stage in 55th place, 1 min 40 sec behind.
Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) for his part had a nightmare day on the roads of Italy. Dropped on the first climb of the day, he suffered throughout the stage. His group was already 20 minutes behind with 55 km to go. The British rider also lost a teammate, the Italian Michael Gazzoli, who is the first rider forced to retire in this 111th Tour de France.
