Frank van den Broek missed out on the stage win in the penultimate stage of the Tour de France on Saturday. The Dutchman rode in the attack for a long time in a soaking wet stage, but he had to bow to Kaden Groves, the Australian teammate of the departed Mathieu van der Poel.
The peloton granted the stage victory in a rolling stage to Pontarlier to the escapees, which was good news for Van den Broek and Pascal Eenkhoorn. They were in the breakaway of the day, which consisted of thirteen riders.
A crash in the descent of the final climb split the leading group in two, leaving Van den Broek with Groves and Briton Jake Stewart. The Dutchman had no answer to Groves’ attack 17 kilometers from the finish. Van den Broek finished second at 55 seconds, and Eenkhoorn finished in third place.
Groves thus gives Alpecin-Deceuninck their third stage victory in the Tour de France, after the earlier success of Jasper Philipsen (opening stage) and Van der Poel. The latter stepped down on Tuesday due to pneumonia.
Long battle for breakaway of the day
After Thymen Arensman’s triumph on Friday in the final mountain stage to La Plagne, Saturday was a last chance for the attackers. That was also evident in the opening hour of the penultimate stage. A fierce battle for the breakaway of the day ignited.
Wout van Aert tried to get away once, but the Belgian from Visma-Lease a Bike was not given any space. Due to the poor weather conditions, it rained continuously on the course for the first few hours, which did not make it any easier.
After more than 40 kilometers of racing, the breakaway of the day was finally a fact. Thirteen riders were given space by the peloton, including the Dutchmen Eenkhoorn and Van den Broek, and Tim Wellens, the stage winner from Sunday. Van Aert tried to connect again, but failed again.
Towards the finale, the leading group remained reasonably intact. More than 60 kilometers from the finish, Harry Sweeny and Jordan Jegat did try to ride away. Harry left his French fellow escapee standing on the Côte de Thésy, a climb of the second category. However, his solo ended prematurely.
Chances for Van den Broek after crash
A group of nine riders, including Van den Broek, started on the last hill of the day. The escapees did not get further than a few pinpricks, although some leaders had to wave the white flag, including Eenkhoorn.
Meanwhile, it had again come pouring down from the sky in France, making the roads around the Swiss border soaking wet. It led to a nasty crash in the leading group in the descent of the last hill. Three escapees crashed.
As a result, Van den Broek, Stewart and Groves were left alone in the last 20 kilometers. For a moment, a new Dutch stage victory in the Tour loomed, but Van den Broek was surprised by an attack from Groves 17 kilometers from the finish.
Van den Broek failed to crawl into Groves’ wheel and refused to lead the chase, to the displeasure of his fellow escapee Stewart. They did not see the teammate of the departed Van der Poel again after that. Van den Broek did try, but his attempt failed. He narrowly kept his advancing compatriot Eenkhoorn behind him.