The message sent to the competition is clear: Jonas Vingegaard will have to be reckoned with in stage races. Twenty-four hours after knocking out Tirreno-Adriatico with a solo victory, the Danish cyclist did it again, Saturday March 9, by winning 6e stage at the top of Monte Petrano, the queen stage of this 2024 edition, 180 kilometers long between Sassoferrato and Cagli.
Starting from very far away, more than six kilometers from the summit, the rider from the Visma-Lease a Bike team was 26 seconds ahead of his runners-up in the general classification: Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) took second place. in the sprint ahead of Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), the two men thus retaining their place in this order on the podium, respectively 1′ 24″ and 1′ 52″ behind Vingegaard.
Setting off with the leader’s blue jersey on his shoulders, the double winner of the Tour de France initially passed the stage quietly in the warmth of the peloton, well protected by his men. They let go without panic a breakaway of nine men who could have been royal, with Richard Carapaz, Julian Alaphilippe or even Ben Healy. But they never conceded more than 2′ 20” to the fugitives, whose small group began to disintegrate 45 kilometers from the finish, when Alaphilippe, the first, let go.
Romain Bardet withdraws from the start of the stage
At the foot of the final ascent, almost ten kilometers at almost 8% average with an altitude difference of 817 meters, there were only two men left in the lead: Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), who quickly gave in, and the diminutive equatorial climber and reigning Olympic champion Richard Carapaz.
Under the leadership of Jai Hindley’s teammates, the peloton attacked the climb at a breakneck pace, notably quickly “blue jersey group” to around fifteen units. 6.6 kilometers from the goal, Vingegaard, Ayuso and Hindley delivered the second sledgehammer blow. Setting out in threes, they caught up and dropped off Carapaz in a few hectometers, before settling scores between them.
Frenchman Romain Bardet (DSM) did not show up for the start of the stage on Saturday. Victim of a fall the day before, he was subjected to the concussion protocol in the evening, which revealed mild symptoms. His team announced his withdrawal in the morning.
