2019 Tour de France: Stage 9 Results

South African champion Daryl Impey stormed to victory in Stage 9 of the 2019 tour de France in Brioude. Impey has raced in seven editions of the race, but this is his first stage victory.

On Bastille Day, the 34-year-old made it into the decisive break of the day and proved to be the strongest in the 15-man move, eventually taking the victory in a two-up sprint. The win means that Impey has been involved in each of the team’s four victories at the Tour de France.

Back in the peloton, Mitchelton-SCOTT team leader Adam Yates rolled home safely in the bunch along with his teammates, but the day belonged to Impey who claimed his first stage win in his seventh Tour.

Early Fight

As expected, there was a battle to get into the breakaway as soon as the flag dropped. Impey made it into the decisive attack as 14-riders edged clear of the field. Seemingly happy with the make-up of the move, the peloton sat up and spread across the road, with the break of the day established. The group eventually grew to 15 as Marc Soler (Movistar Team) bridged across on the opening climb of the day.

The escapees worked well together and stretched their advantage out to over 10-minutes with the peloton content to let the group contest the stage win with no danger to the general classification. But with Impey in the group, along with other fast finishers, the rest of the escapees were keen to shed the South African before the finale.

Thrilling Finish

With this in mind, riders began to attack over the penultimate climb of the day, but the initial move was quickly shutdown. It wasn’t long before the next attacks came as Lukas Pöstlberger (BORA – Hansgrohe) jumped away on an uncategorised ramp and with the rest of the break faltering in organising a chase, the Austrian was able to open up a gap of 45-seconds.

The pace in the chasing group proved to be too much for several riders in the break and group was halved as Pöstlberger was reeled back in on final climb. A counter move went immediately as Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) and Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb) attacked clear, leaving Impey in a small chase group behind. But as the summit approached Impey sensed the leading duo were edging away and the Tour Down Under champion attacked across to the pair.

The leading trio had a sizeable gap on the remains of the breakaway but knowing Impey was a danger in a sprint finish, Benoot attacked. However, the move could only drop Roche as Impey hauled himself onto the Belgians wheel and the duo raced clear of the dropped Team Sunweb rider. With just five kilometres to go it was clear the fight for the win was between Impey and Benoot, with the latter opening up the sprint as the line approached. However, the experienced Impey used his superior turn of speed to come around his rival and take a historic Tour de France stage win.

“That is pretty much for me, from the Tour de France perspective, something that was really missing and this is my seventh time riding the Tour de France,” said Impey. “I’ve been in quite a few breakaways and to finally nail it today, it’s just a dream come true, I really don’t have any words.”

“It was a stage I kind of marked for a breakaway, yesterday was a bit unfortunate as the break went straight away and today we were pretty active, Luke and Matteo were active at the start. I just kind of found the lucky move, I didn’t have to do too much to get in there, then we all just worked really well together and I kind of just believed in myself and played it quite smart there at the end I think.”

“I haven’t actually been that emotional at the finish for a long time, so it’s fantastic to win at this level, the Tour de France. I think the last stage victory for South Africa was Robbie Hunter in 2007, so it’s been a long time between drinks and to win on Bastille Day that’s fantastic, that’s a magic memory.”

“This is a dream come true, this is something I really wanted to do and you know it’s so difficult at this level, so when all the stars line up like they did today, I can’t be any prouder, it’s fantastic and I know South Africa will be cheering on and thanks to my family as well, they’ve supported me the whole way through this,” Impey concluded.

If You Don’t Try, You Can’t Win

Those were the words of Lukas Pöstlberger at the finish after his last minute go for victory.

“I had a gap in the front after the downhill and after a bit of hesitation because I knew there was still a long way to go, I decided to take my chances and attack. I gave all I had in the first kilometres, then as we were approaching the climb, they were coming closer. I tried to save some energy for the climb but after they caught me, it was impossible for me to follow the attacks. Nevertheless, this is part of the race. If you don’t try, you can’t win.”

Close Call for Benoot

Tiesj Benoot stepped on the podium to collect the fourth most aggressive rider prize for Lotto Soudal. Tim Wellens keeps on wearing the polka dot jersey.

“I targeted the victory today and did not ride this stage to win the most aggressive rider award, obviously. To finish second of such a strong breakaway is already huge but when you’re in such a position, you want to win of course,” said Benoot. “With Daryl Impey, I probably had the quickest rider of the break alongside me. The South African is able to win reduced bunch sprints, then you just know it will be difficult. I tried to surprise Impey in the sprint and corner him but that wasn’t enough to turn it to my advantage.”

“During the stage, I felt really strong, I tried to take the initiative myself in order to thin out the group of fifteen, which also succeeded. It seemed that I would have been able to beat Roche but Impey is of course a different story, the section downhill to the finish also did not play into my hands.”

“I wasn’t feeling great the past two days, so this performance brings good news. I clearly found my good legs back. With still eleven stages to go, there will come some more opportunities. The team is in a good flow and I am sure there will be some more chances for Thomas, Tim and myself to get in the breakaway during the second and third week.”

Alaphilippe Enjoys Bastille Day in Yellow

Julian Alaphilippe’s special day started at the team bus, where he was greeted by the hundreds of fans who came to see the first French rider in half a decade to sport the iconic yellow jersey on July 14, continued briefly at the sign-on – where he made his way through a sea of enthusiastic supporters – and then over the 170.5km-long hilly course between Saint-Étienne and Brioude.

Surrounded by his Deceuninck – Quick-Step teammates, who devoted all their energies to working for him, Julian savoured his time in the spotlight, twenty-four hours after igniting a devastating attack that netted him a second spell in the yellow jersey.

“It’s difficult to describe what it means to wear the maillot jaune on July 14, but what I can tell you is that it was more beautiful than the first time I wore it, at the beginning of the week. I spent the entire stage together with my teammates, who controlled it and protected me, for which I am very grateful”, said Julian, who now has five days in yellow, an all-time record for a Deceuninck – Quick-Step rider.

Devastating End for De Marchi

Alessandro De Marchi’s Tour de France came to a devastating end with a nasty crash on stage nine which left the Italian with multiple fractures, a lung contusion, and abrasions.

De Marchi was immediately transported to hospital where X-rays confirmed the extent of his injuries.

CCC Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa said De Marchi sustained a fractured clavicle, ribs, and a lung contusion in the crash which happened in the first 10 kilometers of the stage.

“Alessandro De Marchi was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire – Hôpital Nord in Saint-Étienne where X-rays confirmed a fractured clavicle, fractured fourth rib, lung contusion with a small pneumothorax, all of which is on the left side, and multiple superficial contusions, including a laceration above the left eyebrow. Alessandro will be kept under observation for the next 24 to 48 hours, during which time it will be decided if surgery is necessary to fixate the clavicle fracture,” Dr. Testa explained.

“Alessandro’s recovery timeline will depend on whether he has surgery but it will be at least three to four weeks before he can start riding on the rollers, following which he will ease back into training on the road. He will hopefully be in a position to race again in early September but we will continue to monitor his recovery and adjust this plan accordingly.”

Stage 9 Brief Results:

1. Daryl Impey (Mitchelton – Scott) at 4h03’12”
2. Tiesj Benoot (Lotto – Soudal) s.t.
3. Jan Tratnik (Bahrain – Merida) at 10″
4. Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) s.t.
5. Jasper Stuyven (Trek – Segafredo) s.t.
6. Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb) at 14″
7. Marc Soler (Movistar Team) s.t.
8. Iván García (Bahrain – Merida) at 1’50”
9. Simon Clarke (EF Education First) s.t.
10. Anthony Delaplace (Team Arkéa – Samsic) at 2’42”

General Classification After Stage 9:

1. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) at 38h37’36”
2. Giulio Ciccone (Trek – Segafredo) at 23″
3. Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) at 53″
4. George Bennett (Team Jumbo – Visma) at 1’10”
5. Geraint Thomas (Team INEOS) at 1’12”
6. Egan Bernal (Team INEOS) at 1’16”
7. Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo – Visma) at 1’27”
8. Rigoberto Urán (EF Education First) at 1’38”
9. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana Pro Team) at 1’42”
10. Emanuel Buchmann (BORA – hansgrohe) at 1’45”