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EFE · Road Competition · 02/12/2021
In an intense sprint reduced by falls, Italian Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck-Quick Step) reinforced the lead with a double in the second stage of the sixth edition of the Tour de La Provence, disputed between Cassis and Manosque, of 174.6 kilometers of travel.
Ballerini got rid of the falls in the final section and risked from afar with a snatch that allowed him to raise his arms for the second day in a row, with a time of 4 hours, 21 minutes and 49, ahead of his compatriot Giulio Ciccone (Trek- Segafredo).
A duel in the rain between the transalpine cyclists which was joined as third place by the Spanish Alex Aranburu, from Astana, a team that fought for the victory, but without luck, since the Russian Vlasov fell next to Julian Alaphlippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step ) 1,000 meters from the finish line.
Six seconds behind the winner, the first group entered with some of the favorites, among them the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers). Enric Mas (Movistar) from Spain entered the laggard sector, 2 minutes and 35 seconds behind the winner.
In the general classification, Ballerini reinforced the lead, 16 seconds ahead of Spaniard Alex Aranburu and 19 seconds ahead of Italian Gianni Moscon (Ineos Grenadiers). The tenth place belongs to Egan Bernal, waiting for the queen day of this Saturday with the ascent, although incomplete, to Mont Ventoux, where he will decide the Provence tour.
Stage with a wavy profile and a sloping finish that promises movement from the starting flag. The first non-scoring kilometers uphill encouraged 5 adventurers who immediately opened a gap. Bleier, Leroux, Grosu, Conca and Cousin left for the dream of glory.
Escape made and chase controlled by the Deceuninck of the leader David Ballerini, determined that the rebellion of the quintet was not final. The “wolves” of the Belgian team stabilized the escape at around 2.50 minutes.
On the ascent to Col de la Mort Dmbert (2) the calm broke in the front group. Atac Filippo Conca (Lotto-Soudal), a 22-year-old 1.90m giant, on his second day as a professional, leaving his 4 fugitive companions nailed, unable to respond to the change of pace of the Italian, who crowned 34 kms from the finish line with almost a minute on the pursuers and 2 with respect to a squad that was already taking hunting skills in the rain.
An effort full of illusion, but unrealistic for the Lombard cyclist, achieved shortly after crowning the last scoring difficulty of the stage, Col Montfuron, 16 kilometers from the finish line.
The Deceuninck train stretched the group in search of the finish line in Manosque, where it was still waiting for a trap to be taken into account, an uncomfortable 2.7 kilometer final climb that required strategy in its management. With the wet road, rain and devilish rhythm, the group, already split, flew without mercy.
The favorites came out front, including Julian Alaphilippe in his arcoris jersey, restless as on the first day. His attempt did not allow him to go far, but he alerted the other candidates of the general.
Movistar signed with the American Matteo Jorgenson, ally of the Belgian Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) in a jump 8 km from the finish line that barely managed to disturb the group of the high hierarchy, who cut the project to 4 from the finish line.
Deceuninck put Czech Stybar in order at the front of the pack, but Astana with Gorka Izagirre, victorious in Provence in 2019, also wanted to try to win. Fight for glory in a nervous ending and fought in a group reduced to the strongest.
One each ended with Alaphilippe and Alexander Vlasov, disgracedly eliminated. Two less favorites. In the midst of the confusion, Ballerini played his trick from afar, took Ciccone on the wheel, but the sprinter could with the climber, who took the second consecutive prize and reinforced the leadership. The dream will not last long, the Ventoux arrives and the climbers will compete for the leader’s jersey and the final general.
The third stage between Istres and Chalet Reynard, of 153.9 km, will be decisive. Appointment with the mountain on the ascent to Mont Ventoux, although the goal is not installed on the mythical peak. Climbers will have the option to decide on the leader’s jersey.
Classifications [Clasificaciones completas]
Stage classification:
1. Davide Ballerini (ITA / Deceuninck-Quick Step) – 4:21:49
2. Giulio Ciccone (ITA / Trek-Segafredo) – mt
3. ALEX ARANBURU (ESP / Astana-Premier Tech) – mt
4. Dylan Teuns (BEL / Bahrain-Victorious) – mt
5. Patrick Konrad (AUT / Bora-Hansgrohe) – mt
6. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ / Astana-Premier Tech) – mt
7. Gianni Moscon (ITA / Ineos) – mt
8. Stefano Oldani (ITA / Lotto-Soudal) – mt
9.Sven Erik Bystrom (NOR / UAE Emirates) – mt
10. Bauke Mollema (NED / Trek-Segafredo) at 0:06
General classification:
1. Davide Ballerini (ITA / Deceuninck-Quick Step) – 9:04:52
2. ALEX ARANBURU (ESP / Astana-Premier Tech) at 0:16
3. Gianni Moscon (ITA / Ineos) at 0:19
4. Patrick Konrad (AUT / Bora-Hansgrohe) at 0:20
5. Dylan Teuns (BEL / Bahrain-Victorious) at 0:20
6. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ / Astana-Premier Tech) at 0:20
7. Bauke Mollema (NED / Trek-Segafredo) at 0:25
8. Jack Haig (AUS / Bahrain-Victorious) at 0:26
9. Aurlien Paret-Peintre (FRA / Ag2r-Citron) at 0:26
10. Egan Bernal (COL / Ineos) at 0:26
Next stage, 3: Istres – Mont Ventoux / Chalet Reynard / 153.9 Km.
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