Netflix’s ‘Tour de France Unchained’ editors will probably have to hunt drama away from the Ineos Grenadiers bus this July after the race’s first go to to the excessive mountains appeared to settle any potential questions over group management on day 4.
The lately launched collection appeared to painting Tom Pidcock defying group orders final summer season as teammate Carlos Rodríguez fought for the rostrum within the second week of the Tour de France.
This yr, the race’s first high-mountain go to has seemingly launched the Spaniard again into the function of undisputed GC chief on the British squad after he rolled throughout the stage 4 end line in Valloire in sixth place.
The 23-year-old shed 37 seconds to new chief Tadej Pogačar (plus one other 18 bonus seconds). Just over two minutes later, his teammates Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas rolled throughout the road, whereas Pidcock completed in 56th place, just below 12 minutes down.
“In the tip, we sort of saved the day,” Rodríguez mentioned after the stage. “I felt good within the closing climb. I used to be capable of be shut to the remainder of the GC guys so I’m completely satisfied.
“Sixth on the end line is not a nasty outcome. For certain we had been aiming for higher, however step-by-step and day-by-day, hopefully, we’ll be higher.”
Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates squad set an infernal tempo on the ultimate climb of the 140km stage, the hors catégorie Col du Galibier, shedding riders left and proper because the likes of Tim Wellens, João Almeida, and Juan Ayuso. The ensuing group was shorn of Pidcock, who let go 26km from the road, six from the highest, after which, 3km later, of Bernal, too.
Rodríguez was Ineos’ sole survivor up entrance, joined within the lead by Pogačar and two teammates in Juan Ayuso and João Almeida, plus Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič, and Soudal-QuickStep duo Remco Evenepoel and Mikel Landa.
At the highest of the Galibier, after Pogačar had bolted clear, dashing away to the stage, yellow and a hefty time acquire, Rodríguez caught it out within the chase alongside Roglič and Ayuso. The pair would gather a spooked Evenepoel on the lengthy descent to the end earlier than catching Vingegaard 4km from Valloire.
Rodríguez mentioned later that the stage will not be the toughest he or his GC rivals will encounter on the Tour however added that he wasn’t stunned that UAE Team Emirates determined to go all-out, even at this early stage.
“In the tip, it was the primary mountain day,” he mentioned. “Today and the [other day] are sort of ‘simpler’ days.
“It’s by no means straightforward right here within the Tour, however the profile is just not that tough, so for certain, they had been going to full and take a look at the legs.”
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