Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) took a photo-finish win over yesterday’s winner Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step) to take Stage 19 of the 110th Tour de France. Ben O’Connor (Ag2R Citroen), who was part of the leading trio, took third. No change in the General Classification, with Jonas Vingegaard finishing comfortably with the peloton.
Stage 19 of the 110th edition of the Tour de France was 172.8km from Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny. Described as a ‘classics-style’ stage, it was not clear at the outset if it would be a day for attackers or for sprinters. It is the last sprint opportunity before the final run up the Champs-Elysees on Sunday. Like yesterday, commentators were looking for a showdown between Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen.
The day started with Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) making the first attack, but he was brought back by km3. Then it was Victor Campenaerts, the most combative yesterday, attacking solo. But he was reeled in as well.
At km 13, Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ) and Axel Zingle (Cofidis) go on the attack but are pulled back in time for Peter Sagan to make a go on his own.
Soon after, Mads Pedersen and Alexey Lutsenko gave it a go, and no surprise, Philipsen bridged to them to keep things in check on the first climb. After 30km of racing, Pedersen and Lutsenko were 20” ahead of the chasing peloton. Lutsenko struggled to follow Pedersen in the downhill.
At km 37, Pedersen and Lutsenko were brought back by the first part of the peloton that includes Vingegaard and Pogacar but not Adam Yates who is in the third group.
Alaphilippe and Küng were been reeled in at km 45. The peloton was back together but there were about 40 riders off the back, including Peter Sagan.
The break of the day finally started to take shape at km 57. Alaphilippe, Barguil, Haig, Politt, Pedersen, Zimmermann, Campenaerts, Benoot and Trentin were the first 9 riders in the lead.
The nine leaders went out to about a 1 minute lead by km 90 before Politt broke a chain and went back through the peloton.
With 65km remaining, the eight leaders were caught by a second attack group of 29 riders including Jasper Philipsen, Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock and Christophe Laporte.
Campenaerts and Clarke went off the front and were in the lead, 25” before the group of Jasper Philipsen and 2’30” ahead of the peloton with 57km to go. Intermarché has given up chasing them down.
Clarke and Campenaerts still had a 45 second lead over a chasing group of 34 riders with 35km to go: Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ), Alberto Bettiol, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step), Jack Haig, Matej Mohoric, Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), Marco Haller, Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Ben O’Connor, Oliver Naesen (AG2R-Citroën), Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), Hugo Houle, Krists Neilands, Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech), Luke Durbridge, Dylan Groenewegen, Luka Mezgec (Jayco-AlUla), Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic), Jonas Abrahamsen, Anton Charmig, Rasmus Tiller, Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X), Daniel Oss, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies). The peloton was at 5’15”.
With 32km to go, Clarke cramped up, leaving Campenaerts alone at the front. Asgreen, O’Connor and Mohoric took advantage of the condition to bridge up.
Campenaerts soon popped as well, leaving Asgreen, O’Connor and Mohoric at the front.
25km to go and the leading trio were ahead of a chasing group, including sprint leader Philipsen, trailing by just 27 seconds. Simon Clarke was in no man’s land at 5’32” back and the peloton was at 7’43”.
Laporte and Van der Poel attacked from the green jersey group to try and catch the leading trio at km 20. Laporte did not have the gas, and Trentin & Van der Poel were still trying to bridge 5km later.
Laporte, Trentin, Pidcock, Philipsen, Van der Poel, Mezgec, Zimmermann, Bettiol, Pedersen were still chasing, uniting 20” behind the leading trio.
But they would not catch the leaders.
The trio drag raced to the line. O’Connor went first, but it came down to a two-man sprint between Mohoric and Asgreen with Mohoric winning the photo finish.
Mohoric: “Super Emotional”
“It’s super emotional for me. It’s been a hard month for us all, and it’s been a rollercoaster. This has been an incredibly hard race, and the level is hard. It’s the best bike race in the world with the best bike riders. You are suffering and struggling to hold the wheels some days. When I get in the right place, I try to exploit my opportunities. I went away with great riders, and even though Ben knew he wasn’t the strongest in the sprint, he tried, and we worked well together.
“Kasper was incredibly strong, and honestly, he also deserved the win. But in this Tour, the suffering and sacrifice people go through, you’d want each rider to have this chance to win a stage.
“I had Jack and Fred in the break, and they supported me incredibly well. But it’s not just them. We have an amazing team and amazing staff who give everything every day for us to support us and achieve the dream.
“Another one for our good friend Gino.”
O’Connor: “I have no regrets”
“It was another crazy day. Everyone raced this stage as if it were a classic but we are in the third week of the Tour de France. The pace was crazy. I’m really happy to be able to play a leading role again at this edition after having experienced more complicated days. In the last kilometer, I tried my luck because I knew that in the sprint, it was going to be difficult to win. It didn’t work but at least I have no regrets. My feelings have been much better these last few days.
“Felix Gall’s victory in Courchevel really liberated us. There is still a big climbing stage on Saturday for the team to finish the job and reach the Champs-Élysées on Sunday with pride.”
2023 Tour de France: Stage 19 Brief Results
- Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) @ 3h 31’02”
- Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step) s.t.
- Ben O’Connor (Ag2R Citroen) s.t.
- Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Deceuninck) @ 39″
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 19
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) @ 72h4’39”
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) @ 7’35”
- Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) @ 10’45”
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