Ilan Van Wilder continues to be Soudal Quick-Step’s highest-ranked rider in the general classification.
The Tour de France resumed after the first rest day with an arduous stage ten in the Massif Central, a stern test of climbing over a constantly up-and-down parcours that led to a huge fight to get into the breakaway. As they left behind Aurillac, the peloton prepared for another scorcher of a day, a factor which made the stage even more challenging.
Attacks came left and right for more than an hour, with a front group finally establishing after around 50 kilometers from the start, when both Valentin Paret-Peintre and Louis Vervaeke were part of it. The latter dug deep there, helping the breakaway take its lead to more than a minute, and at the same time, helping the Mont Ventoux winner pick up points on the first climbs of the day that put him in contention for the KOM jersey.
However, they were kept on a tight leash by the peloton, who wanted the win on Quatorze Juillet, and as a result, pushed a brutal tempo that helped them reel in the escapees with 55 kilometers to go. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) took the victory in Le Loran, while Ilan Van Wilder concluded this grueling stage that took in an elevation gain of 3800 meters as the first Soudal Quick-Step rider home.
“It was a good breakaway group and I was lucky to have Louis with me, but the peloton went really fast behind us and all that we could do was try to stay in the front as much as possible. We tried to open a consistent gap, but it just wasn’t possible. It was a really hard day. I took some points on the climbs and we’ll see if fighting for the polka dot jersey can become a goal”, Valentin said after the stage.
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