The second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné hit many of the familiar beats of that strange season: a fiercely competitive day, the intrigue of an apparently declining Team Ineos, and a driver in the colors of Jumbo-Visma who won the day. as was the case seven times in August alone. But while there was a lot of excitement at the tip end of the race, perhaps the most dramatic part of the day came 15 minutes later.
In scenes reminiscent of the neutralized 19th stage of the Tour de France last year, a massive summer storm broke out over the mountains and dropped hail on the Col de Porte. When the spectators searched for protection on the side of the road, the fighters of the peloton rode on to the finish. Some of them ended the day with painful welts from the hailstones hit.
Our photographers Jered & Ashley Gruber were there to capture the drama of the moment.
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There were lots of fireworks on the slopes of Col de Porte, but it was Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) who first climbed the climb and climbed to the line …
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… and hold onto the landing like the former ski jumper he absolutely is.
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Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) finished ninth on his mountain of the same name, just 10 seconds behind the pace. He looks good. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) was methodical as Fabio Aru (not in this race).
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In second place on the stage, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), well-known goat whisperer, made the French dream of their French dream of French fame. Here he is on his way back down with a jacket. Fine, Thibaut!
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Second in this triptych of French heroes is Warren Barguil. The national champion helped his teammate Nairo Quintana to fifth place on the stage and then fought his way to 25th place.
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This is Julian Alaphilippe. Look at him, go. He finished 36th on the stage, but remains – in a much more important symbolic sense – number 1.
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The AG2R squawk force was in place. Romain Bardet rewarded her with the 13th place on the stage.
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Not the best day for Ineos, who split up at the end of the stage and left Egan Bernal in isolation. Here are Geraint Thomas (left) and Pavel Sivakov (right) driving down the mountain to the team buses. Thomas angrily whistles at a ghost in a New Balance hoodie.
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Michael Schär (CCC) kept the KOM jersey at the end of the stage, one point ahead of Roglic.
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The clouds over the Col de Porte looked ominous, and as the peloton fighters slid in, the rain grew a little heavier. Merhawi Kudu (Astana) tried to overcome the elements …
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… But pretty soon it was a full-blown deluge. Here Mathieu Ladagnous (Groupama-FDJ) rides hard against a hail wall.
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Edvald Boasson-Hagen (NTT) didn’t have a very good time and he didn’t care who knew.
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Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-McLaren) was also unhappy with how his Thursday went.
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Sometimes in life all you have to do is grit your teeth and get through.
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Not for the first and not for the last time, the sprint powerhouses Alexander Kristoff and Andre Greipel wished they were a little faster up the hills.
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Guy Niv somehow got the buzz about putting a one-handed wheelie in a violent hailstorm I think?
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James Knox (Deceuninck-Quickstep) was equally soaked and grateful that the team’s kit designer hadn’t gone for white curtsey.
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The road was now so covered in hail that kicking was a tricky business. This Trek Segafredo driver was not lucky enough to have a poorly illustrated sign to shield himself with.
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Tony Martin had sheltered down the mountain under a tree and after the worst had gone up to the summit by floating hail. He is visibly bubbling with joy.
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‘Explore the world’ they said. It’ll be fun they said. ”
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Egan Bernal got his bouquet and fucking got out …
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… Just before the inflatable arch collapsed over the stage.
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Dylan Teuns, who is now a bit happier with a jacket, rides badly past a podium stage, past a destroyed fence and a member of the AG2R Squawk team.
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I call this still life “The Florist’s Lament”.
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Wout van Aert of Wout van Aert after picking up his sprint jersey. The green is just a lovely seamless game for his Bianchi (who runs rim brakes if you can believe it).
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On the mountaintop, a boy in pink was the physical embodiment of 2020.
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The bikes on the side of the road were icy.
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… And then the storm rolled over the Chartreuse Mountains to terrorize some other people. FIN.
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