Before joining Paris, the runners of this 112nd edition of Tour de France had to face a day in the Jura, with this 20th stage between Nantua and Pontarlier. And at the end of these 184 hilly kilometers, it is Kaden Groves Who won! Australian training Alpecin-DECEUNINCK won this stage a lonely step, after a long breakaway. He thus enters the very closed group of runners who won a stage on the three large towers (7x on the Vuelta, 2x on the Giro and therefore 1x on the Tour)! Also present at the front, Jordan Iat (Totalenergies) gave him the beautiful blow of the day, entering the top 10 of the general classification for the benefit of Ben O’Connor (Jayco simple). Tadej Pogacar (Uae Team Emirates XRG) was not put in difficulty and keeps his yellow jersey.
VIDEO – Kaden Groves, winner of this 20th stage
The summary
The first kilometers are very lively, with the Col de la Croix de la Serra (12.2km at 4.1%) which is placed near departure. Many want to escape, but no one can make a real difference. A few kilometers further, a trio Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike), Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG) et Ewen costiou (Arkéa-B & B Hotels) takes a few lengths ahead, before being joined by 10 men: Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal Quick-Step), Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Ivan Romeo (Movistar), Simon Velasco (XDs asa), Frank van den Broek (Picnic postnl), Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-DECEUNINCK) ET Jordan Iat (Totalnergies). Problem, the latter is 11th in the general classification, at 4'08 “of the 10th Ben O’Connor (Jayco simple). O’Connor So ride his team, but does not have a lot of teammates in an already well reduced peloton.
In the rain, the gap rises up to 5 minutes. And at the foot of the Coast of Théy (3.5km at 9%), located 60 kilometers from the finish, we are witnessing the first movements of this breakaway. Jordan Iat et Harry Sweeny manage to extricate, but Hunt Fart of the Australian wheel a few kilometers further. Sweeny launches in a long solo raid. Behind, the agreement is not good, the gap is hollowing out and it attacks.
The final
26 kilometers from the finish, everyone manages to return to Sweenyexcept Jorgenson et Wellens who were buried and Cost who exploded. While we arrive in the last ascent of the day, the Côte de Longeville (2.6km at 6%). We are witnessing several attacks, but no one manages to make the difference. But it is in the descent that everything will switch, since Ivan Romeo et Romain Grégoirethen at the top of the group, will fall in a turn. The Frenchman leaves quickly, while the Spaniard has hurt himself and takes more time. Following this fall, which exploded the group, there are only 3 men in mind: Kaden Groves, Jake Stewart et Frank van den Broek. But the latter does not collaborate, Stewart So leave him a break, the two amazes … but no one makes the effort and Groves flies away alone 17 kilometers from the finish. Behind, everyone is scattered and at the end of the roll. The Australian is very strong and widens the gap. 5 terminals of the line it has 45 “on Van den Broek and 1 'on a group of pursuers. As a boss, Groves So far and comes to seek the victory at Pontarlier … His first solo victory in a career, for the one who usually shines in massive sprints! Van den Broek takes 2nd place, in front One -rack (3E), Velasco (4th) and Grégoire (5e).
Jordan Iat Has the line with 1'04 “late. But the yellow jersey peloton arrives much further, with more than 7 minutes of disbursements … The Breton therefore seizes 10th place in the general classification, in favor of Ben O’Connor. We will therefore have to count two French in the final top 10 in Paris, with Kévin Vauquelin 7th and Jordan Iat 10th.
