Thursday, March 28, 2024

Le Tour de France 2016 – Stage 9; Vielha Val d’Aran – Andorre Arcalis. Dumoulin Solos to Victory

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsLe Tour de France 2016 - Stage 9; Vielha Val d'Aran -...

Mont-Saint-MichelTom Dumoulin tests to solo glory in Andorra; Pinot goes poids; Froome consolidates jaune; Porte confuses; Martin rises to another level; Yates confirms; Aru and Tejay slide whilst Quintana waits – but it’s over for Alberto.

But all that said – no real changes from yesterday and the Bigs only race the last few kilometres…

The road rises straight from the off today with the first cat. climb Port de Bonaigua, 13.7km, average gradient of 6.1% – and the action started right away with it; the ‘riders all over the hill’ of cliché.

Contador (Tinkoff) grabbed some daylight but came back whilst Rolland’s (Cannondale) hopes are wavering; dropped early along with Cav – who’s in for a long day in the montagnes.

Dumoulin
Tom Dumoulin takes a mountain stage victory. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

At the top we get a ‘snapshot’ of how it stands – Pinot (F des J) takes the points from De Gendt (Lotto) and the man in poids, Majka (Tinkoff).

The Frenchman now ‘virtually’ wears that maillot but with a long way still to go that can and will change.

Behind we have Valverde (Movistar) and Sagan (Tinkoff) as the biggest names in the group to which Pinot, De Gendt and Majka return – riders from IAM, Astana and Lampre are all in there, too.

The group is one minute plus – and stretching – clear of the Sky driven peloton – with Rowe on point; this is a long, long descent to the foot of the Port del Canto.

The full composition of the escape is: Alejandro Valverde, Winner Anacona, Jesus Herrada (Movistar), Diego Rosa, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana), Rafal Majka, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R-LaMondiale), George Bennett (Lotto-Jumbo), Mathias Frank, Stef Clement, Jérôme Coppel (IAM), Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Tom Dumoulin (Giant), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Rui Costa, Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida), Thomas De Gendt, Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Dani Navarro, Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).

There are a lot of men in there who could win the stage – Ancona, Costa, Gallopin, LL Sanchez to name but four.

But it’s a big group, hard to forge cooperation and Sky are dragging them back – we may well see a splinter group go from this group.

And Valverde’s presence is a problem, Sky won’t let it go – the Spaniard sits up and drifts back – the break has it’s freedom and the gap grows at once.

Dumoulin
Cofidis at the head of affairs, with IAM in attendance. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

At the top of the second climb, the 19km long average gradient of 5.4% Port del Canto it’s Thomas De Gendt, 10 pts from Thibaut Pinot, 8 pts, Rafal Majka, 6 pts, Diego Rosa, 4 pts, Stef Clement, 2 pts and Alexis Vuillermoz, 1 pt with their lead now over eight minutes – it looks like the winner will come from the break who are riding smoothly.

Pinot has built on his lead in the K of M but we still have three summits to breast.

Alberto Contador is out, two crashes and now a fever – very sad and a great loss to the race.

No more to say.

We have 54 K to go now and we’ll re-cap on who’s up ahead with nine minutes in hand: Winner Anacona, Jesus Herrada (Movistar), Diego Rosa, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana), Rafal Majka, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R-LaMondiale), George Bennett (Lotto-Jumbo), Mathias Frank, Stef Clement, Jérôme Coppel (IAM), Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Tom Dumoulin (Giant), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Rui Costa, Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida), Thomas De Gendt, Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Dani Navarro, Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).

Dumoulin
Peter Sagan rode hard to stay with the group as long as possible. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

Sagan nabs the sprint points at Andorra-la-Vella – no one is daft enough to contest.

We’re on the Cote de la Comella now, second cat. and too tough for Sagan – but ‘job done’ for the World Champion who slides backwards.

Richmond Worlds TT medallist, Jerome Coppel goes on the offensive from the break, former Ethiopian Champion, Grmay joins him.

Many kilometres behind, Sky and BMC ride on the front of the peloton – Kiryienka sits, stony faced and churns out the tempo.

Coppel and Grmay approach the summit but pesky Belgian De Gendt zooms up to bag the K of M points then clears off solo.

Dumoulin
Tsgabu Gebremaryam Grmay and Jerome Coppel. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

De Gendt is on the descent of the Comella now and soon he’ll be into the penultimate climb of the Col de Beixalis – cat. one and NASTY with some horribly steep 17% pitches.

The former Giro podium rider is alone and riding strongly ahead of the break on the Beixalis; he has 8:54 on the Sky inspired peloton.

De Gendt is out of the saddle on the fierce hairpins then back in the saddle on the straights to try and find that all important rhythm – hard to do on this beast.

His jersey flaps, his shoulders rock; he looks back, maybe seven, eight break survivors are locked on to him – with Pinot there and desperate for those points.

De Gendt pops, it’s over for him – the grades just too steep.

Dumoulin
Thomas De Gendt started the attack just 10km in to the stage. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

Sky, meanwhile are in control, four of them turning up the wick on the lower and middle slopes for Froome as rider after rider slides out the back – there goes Alaphilippe, now Moinard, Sicard – Barguil looks shaky.

The Frenchman gestures that his throat is cut and duly slips off the back.

Up front Pinot drives the break, maybe too hard?

Bennett digs from the break but Pinot isn’t having it – those points are HIS.

Bennett again but they’re not letting him go.

Rosa now, Pinot is super glued to him – the Frenchman jumps the Italian former Gianni Savio protégé and takes another good dose of points on the summit – he’s well clear in that competition, now.

BUT double K of M points on the finish line…

Dumoulin
The bunch approaches Port del Canto. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

The last descent now for the breakaways as they swish under the 20 K banner – there are two games being played now, the stage win and the GC.

The breakaway is splitting, attacks coming all the time; Costa is clear, Rosa counters – Navarro now, Majka counters but Pinot shuts it down.

Navarro goes again with five K to go to the start of the categorisation for the climb – which is 10 K long.

They still have eight minutes so they can afford some games – but not too many of them.

Sky has eased back – Barguil has got back.

Dumoulin goes from the break, looking very powerful.

There’s no real cohesion behind; most of the break will be cooked by now; but his erstwhile amigos realise the danger and try to get it together – but the Dutch time tester has got 53 seconds now.

The big Giant man has 10 K to go with the bunch nine minutes back – this looks like his day.

Pinot forces things in the break but it’s Costa going solo in pursuit of Dumoulin.

There are double K of M points on the summit so Majka and Pinot will be joined at the hip on this one.

Majka’s up to Costa with six K to go as the heavens open at the line – rain and hail.

There’s no real urgency in the peloton now, still four Sky’s for Froome as the gap goes out to 9:24; Sagan is still in the peloton – enough said.

Dumoulin taps out his rhythm with 44 seconds on Majka and Costa with five K to go – as the four K marker approaches he battles through rain and sleet.

Dumoulin
Chris Froome rode well in defence of the lead. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway

Sky’s Poels and Nieve have popped – no surprise.

Henao attacks – why?

Porte now, Froome matches him and drops him as Quintana goes with the Englishman through bouncing hail.

Porte again, shouldn’t he be working for van Garderen ?

Dan Martin attacks, Froome matches him, Quintana is there as Martin kicks again but Porte presses on.

Dumoulin
Dan Martin pulls Froome and the rest. Photo©ASO/B.Bade

To no avail, Martin, Froome, Quintana and Yates are there as Aru slips off the pace.

Mollema now, driving hard, but closed down.

Dumoulin is at the red kite now, he looks safe.

Mollema is riding hard, again he goes, Froome counters – Quintana is there, Yates, Martin…

Dumoulin wins, solo in the rain – a great ride.

Dumoulin takes the day. Photo©ASO/G.Demouvaux
Dumoulin takes the day. Photo©ASO/G.Demouvaux

Costa second, Majka third with Navarro fourth a little off the pace – Pinot is sixth to take poids.

Martin is driving it behind, but Froome is there and he goes again, covered by Quintana – Porte is there and Yates as Martin tries to fight his way back.

Four in the lead; Porte – who should not be driving – Froome, Quintana and Yates who goes for it and is first over the line in tenth spot.

A good day of racing with Dumoulin the ‘worthy winner’ of cliché; Martin and Yates excelling; Pinot entertaining; Porte proving again that you cannot have more than one leader; Contador bowing out – and Quintana waiting, we hope…

[vsw id=”9vU9nIs6YpA” source=”youtube” width=”615″ height=”430″ autoplay=”no”]

Dumoulin
Sir Dave is very happy with things in Vielha Val d’Aran. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway
Dumoulin
Sky win the team prize for the day, again. Photo©ASO/A.Broadway
Dumoulin
Jarlinson Pantano messes around. Photo©ASO/B.Bade
Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

La Vuelta a España 2012 – Stage 3: Faustino V – Eibar (Arrate) 155.3 km

Sprinters? As my old work buddy, Sam Johnston used to reply, when asked what had become of his ‘hot tip’ for the 3:45 at Kempton Park; ‘they’re still out looking for it – with lanterns!’ Stage three was no day for the sprinters; what VeloVeritas had failed to appreciate was that ‘Arrate’ was as in ‘Subida a Arrate’ mountain race – as won by Luis Ocana, Marino Lejarreta, Francisco Galdos, Johan de Muunck and Raymond Poulidor. No big, bulging thighs among those names.

Le Tour de France 2017 – Rest Day 1: Dordogne. Moules, frites, turbos, and interviews

The deal is that they have four static bikes on rollers hooked up to a magnetic ‘cycle track’ – Scalextrix style - with little ‘Lego figures’ on tiny bikes on the track. The harder you pedal, the faster your little figure goes. Scottish honour was upheld by VeloVeritas with Martin posting fastest heat against Berteld Van de Velde, "the Moules Guy" at time of leaving...

Le Tour de France 2017 – Stage 8: Dole – Station des rousses, 187.5km. Lilian Calmejane ignores the cramps and takes the solo win

It’s not often you see Direct Energie’s main man, Jean-René Bernaudeau in tears – unless someone spills something nasty on those John Wayne cowboy boots he always wears. But there were red, puffy and wet eyes for him yesterday as he hugged his big boy Lilian Calmejane at the Station Des Rousses high in the Jura mountains.

Le Tour de France 2017 – Stage 14: Blagnac – Rodez, 181.5km. Michael Matthews makes it two in a row for Sunweb

Yes, there are days when we’ve criticised the racing – those endless ‘sprinter stages’ where only the last five minutes saves the day. But we were puzzled by the comments we saw about yesterday’s stage to Rodez on social media; the "Bore de France" and the break "allowed for purely commercial reasons"?

At Random

Le Tour de France 2009 – We’re There!

In previous years we've posted stories and interviews live from the Tour de France, but we usually haven't joined the race until it's into the second week.

Le Tour de France 2012 – Stage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Annonay Davézieux, 220 km.

What a day; when we heard Millar was in the break, we knew he was definitely capable of beating three of his companions - Gautier was the only one we didn't know about. But when we saw him, we knew he'd win - it was there in his eyes, if you knew what you were looking at.

Leo Konig – “Now other riders know they have to look out for us”

Leo Lonig was with NetApp in 2012 and there was a TTT win in the Coppi-Bartali, a third on GC in the Tour of Utah and stage win in the Tour of Britain. But this year has seen him reach the highest level in the sport with stage wins in two World Tour races and sit eighth on GC in one of the World’s greatest races as the climax approaches.

Gent Six Day 2014 – One of the ‘Straightest’ Sixes We’ve Seen

I remember once, after the last chase in a Six Day I asked Dirk, our Belgian mechanic; ‘was that finale ‘straight’ Dirk?' He fixed me with a patient stare, much as a good parent would do after their child has said something silly, ‘have you ever seen a ‘straight’ Six Day, Ed?’ I took his point, they’re all pretty much choreographed – but like I keep saying, you have to be able to take laps out of a string riding at 52-53 kph to win. But I reckon that on Sunday evening I did see a straight finale.