It was supposed to be a showdown between Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar – but the Slovenen was a demonstration of power. On the sixth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, he raced everyone away, secured his second day of the day and the yellow jersey. Florian Lipowitz became the strong third.
Only 126.7 kilometers were on the program between Valserhone and combloux, accordingly it was also hot from the start at hot temperatures. Finally, seven drivers managed to break away from the main field, with Romain Bardet and Mathieu van der Poel the group was also prominently occupied. However, the pace in the group around yellow carrier Evenepoel was so high that there was no big lead.
Lipowitz tests the favorites with an early attack
Evenepoel fell the day before, but gave the all -clear at the start: “I’m doing very well, nothing serious, just a few scratches.” So everything was prepared for the three -way battle for the top between him, Pogacar and Vingegaard, which was only 14 seconds behind Evenepoel in the overall ranking.
The gap of Pogacar was 38 seconds before the first mountain arrival, in which the stage officially ended with an increase in the second category, but actually it was rather a longer mountain of almost nine kilometers with several steep sections. This profile was also an opportunity for Florian Lipowitz, who was second with four seconds behind the sixth stage.
The German top driver had baked smaller rolls before the tour of the tour. “Actually, the stages that lie to me are actually coming. I can’t compete with the big three, but there is a top ten placement”said Lipowitz. But the 24-year-old was clearly researcher on the track, he attacked 43.5 kilometers before the finish and tested the favorites. In the end, however, it was not an attack on the day’s victory, after the Cote du Mont-Saxonnex (first category) they were “Big three” With their helpers again with Lipowitz.
Pogacar and UAE make short processes with the competition
In the meantime, only two drivers with Michael Leonard and Alex Baudin asserted themselves at the top, but only with a lead of just more than a minute. So it was not only a showdown about yellow, but also one about the day’s victory between the favorites.
At the beginning of the first mountain of the second category, Pogacar’s UAE team immediately blew up the field of favorites – and Evenepoel managed to hang out, and Lipowitz could not follow. And then Pogacar left Vingegaard 7.2 kilometers before the finish and drove towards his second day of the tour. Just 600 meters later, the tour winner and world champion of the past year was already at the top of the race.
Strong Lipowitz sets off from Evenepoel
Pogacar not only led the race, but also expanded his lead with every meter. Five kilometers before the end he drove 30 seconds before Vingegaard, 50 seconds on Evenepoel and Lipowitz. It was already clear that Pogacar would win and take over the yellow jersey – the only question was: How big will his upholster be before the further heavy stages until the end of the tour on Sunday?
Although Lipowitz had no chance of winning, the day was still a great success for him, because he attacked again and stopped from Evenepoel, claimed third place behind the leading and Vingegaard. The Dane finally lost 1:01 minutes to Pogacar, Lipowitz drove over the finish line just 21 seconds later. He finished Evenepoel for 1:50 minutes after Pogacar.
“We had a plan and I had good memories of the climb. The team was incredible”said Pogacar, who lies 43 seconds before Vingegaard and 54 seconds before Lipowitz. “We had nothing to lose and I felt really good. It was my goal to be in front and make up time – a minute lead is pretty good.”
Two more mountain arrivals
Two stages are still pending in the tour of the tour – and could be a grand finale in the fight for the overall victory, provided Vingegaard shows that the really heavy mountains are terrain. On Saturday there are three climbs of the highest category including a mountain arrival, which will also be available on the final day on the plateau du Mont-Cenis. The tour of France then starts on July 5 in Lille.