The penultimate stage of the 2023 Tour once again eluded the sprinters. Between Moirans and Poligny, lands of the Jura, with only two levels but a favorable terrain for ambushes, an electric day was planned, in a classic way, squeezing the few forces that were already left in the peloton. The victory went to Matej Mohoric, who anticipated the winner of the previous day, Kasper Asgreen, by a breath. They and Ben O'Connor starred in the escape of the escape, a trio of carats. [Narration and ratings]
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The Slovenian cried, again Gino Mader in memory, the emotion for the fallen teammate to whom Bahrain Victorius has already dedicated three victories on this Tour, including that of Pello Bilbao. It is his third victory on the Tour (he also raised his arms in the Giro and the Vuelta), a true winner of the Milan – San Remo, already enormous Mohoric's record at 28 years old.
It was not a day for forgetfulness and that the heat granted a truce. Tell that to Adam Yates, who was involved in a cut just out of Moirans and had to put the UAE to work. They did not succeed because in the special sprint of the day, Jasper Philipsen's movement caused the final cut. There were 28 more guys traveling there -none from Movistar and only Ion Izagirre among the remaining Spaniards- and the peloton stopped dead: it was going to reach the finish line after almost 14 minutes.
The incombustible Campenaerts tried it together with Simon Clarke, but it was in Cote d'Ivoire where Asgreen, the Danish maverick, attacked. He was joined by an O'Connor who was expected more on the Tour (he has been fourth twice) and the final winner Mohoric. It was a beautiful fight with those behind, who had no way of catching them, despite the attempts of Pedersen, Laporte and company.