Stage Report: Another wet, cold and crazy day in the mountains of the 2021 Tour de France. A big break rode away through the rain to build up a good lead, then it split leaving Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) and Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) at the front for the Australian to add to his Giro d’Italia stage win. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) easily took care of his yellow jersey.
*** The full ‘PEZ Stage Report’ very soon. ***
A hard fought and deserved win for Ben O’Connor
– The final kilometre of Stage 9 and read our full report and pics below:-
Ben O’Connor impressively won Tour de France stage 9 to Tignes. The Australian AG2R Citroën rider was part of a gigantic leading group, he survived the selection to hit the final climb with Sergio Higuita and Nairo Quintana. Tadej Pogačar’s yellow jersey was never in danger.
Stage 9 profile
Tour boss Christian Prudhomme describes stage 9: “We had promised that we would rapidly return to Tignes to erase the frustration of the missed rendez-vous of 2019. The Tour will respect its word by going up the Col du Pré for the second time and of course the majestic Cormet de Roselend before heading up the long final ascent that sneaks up under the dam all the way to the Val Claret.”
Not a good day for Jumbo-Visma – Primoz Roglič didn’t start stage 9 and Wout van Aert couldn’t hang on to the GC group
The leaders this morning in Cluses: Dylan Teuns (Bahrain – Victorious), Wout Poels (Bahrain – Victorious), Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)
Another wet day for the Tour
Has Tadej Pogačar recovered from stage 8?
It was a hard day for everyone
The World champion, Alaphilippe, was in the break again
Pogačar has a good time cushion in the overall
Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) was having a good day
Nairo Quintana was also looking good, until…
Grim!
Pogačar had more teammates with him today
Sergio Higuita and Ben O’Connor dropped Quintana
Pogačar never looked worried
Not many left in the peloton
INEOS were keeping a close watch on Pogačar
It was Ben O’Connor’s day
Thomas was in better form today, but Pogačar was unstoppable
O’Connor went solo
Could he take yellow?
Stage win and nearly the yellow jersey
No yellow, but stage and 2nd overall
No problem for Tadej Pogačar
Tour de France Stage 9 Result:
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën in 4:26:43
2. Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Deceuninck – Quick-Step at 5:07
3. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain Victorious at 5:34
4. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis at 5:36
5. Franck Bonnamour (Fra) B&B Hotels p/b KTM at 6:02
6. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
7. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers at 6:34
8. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma
9. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 9:
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 34:11:10
2. Ben O’Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën at 2:01
3. Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education-Nippo at 5:18
4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma at 5:32
5. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers at 5:33
6. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 5:47
7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) BORA-hansgrohe at 5:58
8. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech at 6:12
9. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis at 7:02
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 7:22