Another 3.2 km – Neilson Powless also has to pass.
3.5 km to go – The exact difference between the pack and Kämna is 54 seconds† In the meantime, a lot of Pogacar’s competitors are dropping out, including Vlasov.
3.7 km to go – Dylan Teuns is swallowed by the peloton.
4.2 km to go – The difference dips below a minute for the first time. The BORA-hansgrohe rider still holds the leading position.
Another 4.5 km – It’s excruciatingly exciting. The difference with the peloton is a little more than 1 minute, but UAE Emirates keeps up the pace. If Kämna wants to win a stage, he can’t slow down anymore.
4.8 km to go – Kämna solos away from Geschke, who seems seen. Will Kämna drive solo to the finish?
Another 5.5 km – Kämna drives away from Dylan Teuns and so Geschke still gets a companion on the mountain. Two Germans in the lead!
5.8 km to go – The difference between Geschke and the peloton is still 1 minute and 15 seconds†
6.0 km to go – Durbridge still has to release, while Kämna and Teuns are 5 seconds behind Geschke.
Another 6.7 km – Simon Geschke still wants to! He has already led the way several times today, and for the time being Teuns and Kämna have no answer. Durbridge has no answer either, but it’s already amazing that he’s still there.
7.2 km to go – Schachmann must pass! That means that Pogacar will most likely keep the yellow.
9.1 km to go – The final phase has begun. The difference is still 1 minute and 44 seconds†
13 km to go – Teuns smells an opportunity to take the stage victory, and pulls the leading group forward once more. Will the Belgian manage to win the stage on La Super Planche des Belles Filles, just like in 2019?
13 km to go – Green jersey wearer Van Aert also reports at the front of the pack. The difference with the leading group is growing a bit again, towards the 2 minutes†
15 km to go – Slowly different groups are formed at the head of the peloton. Pogacar’s servants drive on the left and on the right we see Quintana’s team steaming up. What kind of ending will this stage have?
17 km to go – Another 10 kilometers to the foot of the final climb. La Super Planche des Belles Filles is incidentally the first ascent of the first category this Tour.
19 km to go – While the difference between the peloton and the leading group is still decreasing, several riders drop out. Let Pedersen, Ciccone, Planckaert and Van Keirsbulck run, among others.
20 km to go – The road rises gently, and the gap drops again. It is now only 2 minutes and 5 seconds, meaning Pogacar is virtually driving back into yellow. The difference with Schachmann in the standings is 2 minutes and 7 seconds.
22 km to go – The difference is still 2 minutes and 30 seconds as the riders head towards the final 20 kilometers. When does Pogacar launch the attack?
25 km to go – We still see the men of Team UAE Emirates driving in front. Pogacar still has his sights on stage win.
31 km to go – Magnus Cort will hope that the leading group and the peloton will reunite before the finish: if Geschke or Teuns takes the stage victory – and therefore also the full loot on the Col des Croix – then the Dane will have lost his polka dot jersey.
32 km to go – For the time being, it seems that Pogacar’s team has things under control at the head of the pack. The difference dangles a bit between the 2.5 minutes and the 3 minutes† This will probably shrink enough towards the end of the stage to allow Pogacar to keep yellow.
35 km to go – The difference is still about 2 minutes and 42 secondswhile the riders are on their way to the last and toughest climb of the day: La Super Planche des Belles Filles.
Another 39 km – Geschke is the first to surface again! His mountain points total increases to 4. Dylan Teuns takes the last point.
40 km to go – On the Col des Croix, the lead of the leading group drops again under 3 minutes, but the seven men are almost upstairs. Who will take the mountain points this time?
43 km to go – With only 43 kilometers on the clock, the lead continues to increase (slowly). The leading group is now driving such a 3 minutes and 14 seconds for the peloton.
52 km to go – Erviti and Barthe are going to connect again! So we again get a leading group of seven riders, who 3 minutes head start to defend.
54 km to go – Virtually Maximilian Schachmann is currently in yellow, but the chance that Pogacar will get even closer before the end of the stage is quite significant.
55 km to go – The five front runners seem satisfied with the composition of the leading group, although Erviti and Barthe try to get back in the descent. They are 11 seconds behind.
62 km to go – With two riders, Kämna and Schachmann, BORA-hansgrohe is best represented in the leading group. How well can they work together?
Another 66 km – The UAE train in front of the peloton is having a hard time and the difference is increasing, on the Col de la Grosse Pierre. The leading group of five has now 2 minutes and 34 seconds†
68 km to go – Geschke got out of bed with good legs. The German drives away from the four to pick up the mountain points. The two points go to Geschke and Kämna takes the remaining point.
69 km to go – Teuns joins again and that means that we have five men in the lead: Kämna, Schachmann, Geschke, Teuns and Durbridge.