banco Mollema, good luck Martin – Liberation

The Dutchman Bauke Mollema wins in Quillan, after an eventful day. Member of the breakaway of 14, Guillaume Martin goes back to second place in the general classification. But stay very far from Pogacar. And also the statement, the stat, the dico of the bike, the quiz …

One attack, only one, in a false flat descending 42 kilometers from the finish. More than a minute ahead at the foot of the last of the five moguls listed this Saturday, lead kept at the top, Bauke Mollema made a nice number to win in Quillan (Aude). Exactly the same as at the beginning of the year when he had done well for the Ligurians, victory alone during the Trofeo Laigueglia. This is the first victory for his team, Trek-Segafredo, on the 2021 Tour. Wednesday in the Ventoux, Kenny Elissonde and Bauke Mollema, already, had finished 2nd and 3rd on the stage, behind Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma ).

In Cathar country, the runners will have crossed few spectators, leaving the eyes of the followers to appreciate the greenery of the upper valley of the Aude, and some castles along the road. Tourism also for Tadej Pogacar, from the moment when the breakaway of the strong ones was constituted, the peloton walked at a brisk pace, without going crazy, to Quillan. Quillan, a sporting commune, the rugby club was champion of France in 1929, and the city hosts one of the post-Tour de France fairs, where the runners of the Grande Boucle parade. The criterium of Quillan, on August 15, the last winner (2019) Romain Bardet.

14: the number of the stage was also, this Saturday, the number of breakaways. A fugue in three stages, three small groups, which, once united, widened the gap. Up to 6 minutes early for the fugitives, and a very good operation for Guillaume Martin. The leader of the Cofidis team takes second place in the general classification. “I gave a lot to keep this breakaway alive. I surely had a problem with dehydration at the end, I hope I will recover well… ”, he philosophizes on arrival. Second overall, a rank that will be difficult to keep in the Pyrenees with the efforts made this Saturday and from this Sunday the port of Envalira (2 408 m) on the program. A Sunday Martin? Answer in twenty-four hours in front of your TV.

In the state: 0

This is, in second, what separated, this Saturday morning, the last two in the general classification, Amund Jansen and Tim Declercq. The latter, a member of the Deceuninck-Quick Step, was the red lantern for a few hundredths of a second.

Thing seen

Watch out, a snake!

The declared

Five years ago, there were very few internships in the high mountains. Now it’s on everyone’s schedule and a lot of runners live at an altitude of 1,500m. The level has really increased.

— Dan Martin, runner of Israel Start-up Nation at “Liberation”

The dico of the bike

Put the arrow

You might think that putting the arrow is attacking and leaving others behind. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Whoever puts the arrow gives up, discreetly, without going through the broom-car box. Already more than thirty abandons in this Tour de France, out of 184 starters.

The question of the day

This Sunday, the stage passes, km 18, by the Col du Fourtou, named after a former local owner. Previously, his name was the Coll de Porta, the Col de Port (which has the same name as another pass that the runners will cross on Tuesday). In short, the Col de Port is funny, because a port in the Pyrenees is a pass. What is the name of the figure of speech which consists of repeating the same idea in different terms in an expression?

♦Anantapodoton

♦Synecdoque

♦ Tautology

♦ Litote

Answer tomorrow!

Answer of yesterday’s question: the Tour de l’Aude.

The profile of tomorrow’s stage

Season 2021 Episode 01 / Episode 02 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5 / Episode 06 / Episode 7 / Episode 8 / Episode 9 / Episode 10 / Episode 11 / Episode 12 / Episode 13