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Luis Miguel Pascual
EFE I THE COUNTRY I Loudenvielle (France)
Egan Bernal emitted some sign of weakness in the first Pyrenean stage, although he won the goal among the best, among them his compatriot Nairo Quintana, who was more offensive and showed his best version.
Miguel Ángel López and Rigoberto Urán also finished in the group of important players, who remain in the “top 10” of the general classification, 13 seconds behind the leader, the British Adam Yates.
The attacks finally reached the COVID-19 Tour and there was movement in the group of favorites. On the ascent to the port of Balès, a special category, the Jumbo of Slovenian Primoz Roglic, second overall, picked up the pace and completely dislodged Ineos de Bernal.
The winner of the last edition found himself alone, at the mercy of the attacks of his rivals, which followed one another on the part of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar and Quintana himself, without Bernal responding with solvency.
In the next port, that of Peyresourde, the Ineos head of ranks recovered the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, which allowed him to control the race more.
But Bernal did not seem to have the ease of the last edition and was slow to respond to the attacks. He left the weight of the race to Roglic’s Jumbo, who proved to be the strongest team. After the victory achieved by the Slovenian on the first summit, last Tuesday, they are consolidated as the most solid of the first part of the Tour.
BERNAL SATISFIED
The Colombian relativized the day, despite the fact that for the first time in many years the team does not appear as the strongest of the peloton. Bernal stressed that he wasted no time at the finish line with the other favorites and that he continues to consider the Tour as a three-week test.
“It has been a pretty good day. Nairo has attacked, Roglic and López also. It is a very interesting race because everyone has a great level,” said Bernal.
Quintana tried it a couple of times and showed strength to respond to the offenses of other rivals.
The Arkea rider, who lost a teammate with the withdrawal of Italian Diego Rosa, victim of a fall in which he fractured a clavicle, is in good form.
“It was a very tough stage, but in the end I felt strong and tried. I couldn’t separate myself from the group but the balance is positive because I was with the best,” he said.
“I feel good and I hope to continue in this line, there is a lot of Tour and important stages left and the idea is to continue in this line,” said the Boyacá player.
LÓPEZ AND URÁN, SOLID
Miguel Ángel López was also solid and even made some attempted attack, although for most of the day he limited himself to staying among the best.
Something similar to what Rigoberto Urán did. The second of 2017 is again in the “top 10” of the general, on the eve of the second Pyrenean stage on Sunday.
Once again, the mountain will favor Colombians, with a day of five ports, two of them first, the last, the fearsome Marie Blanque, with a summit 18 kilometers for the arrival.
