Junior Lecerf is eighth in the overall standings with one day to go.
The Wolfpack was on a mission Saturday afternoon: to go on the attack and try to make the most out of the penultimate stage of the race, which took in four classified ascents and over 3500 meters of climbing. As soon as the bunch left behind the short neutral zone, our riders went on the offensive, and even though nothing materialized in the first kilometers, they didn’t give up, and when a breakaway was finally formed, both Valentin Paret-Peintre and Louis Vervaeke were there.
The group numbered just six riders, but they were all committed to the break, and managed to carve out a three-minute advantage. Vervaeke rode a great race for his French teammate, sparing no effort, to give the Mont Ventoux winner a good gap by the time they arrived on Jaunpass, the most brutal climb of this edition, which averaged 8.3% over 8.9 kilometers. On those steep slopes, Paret-Peintre got out of the saddle and launched a big attack that made a selection, as only one other rider could match his pace.
When I missed the first breakaway, I was a bit disappointed, but then I soon realised there was still a chance to be in the front and went for it.
“It helped also that some teams were pulling to set their riders up for an attack, so I just followed when I went and joined the leading group, where I could count on Louis. We rode really hard, there was a good cooperation and we did our maximum in the breakaway. We just couldn’t keep enough of an advantage, and that’s really disappointing, but that’s how it is”, Valentin said about Saturday’s stage.
Their margin continued to be a promising one, but it melted after the GC men began attacking, which ultimately led to the duo being caught just two kilometers from the top. As Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) soloed to victory, a strong chasing group formed behind the Slovenian, and Junior Lecerf was again there for Soudal Quick-Step to finish eighth in Charmey, a result that helped him crack the top ten overall at the last World Tour race before the Giro d’Italia.
After the stage, Louis took to the podium to be awarded the prize for the most combative rider of the day, a well-deserved recognition for the 32-year-old: “I was happy today with the fact I had a good feeling as soon as we rolled out. The main objective for this stage was to help Valentin win the stage, it’s a role I like and one that I’m used to, as I have a lot of experience. I always do my best for the team, and today was no exception. We tried to give everything out there, but it was really difficult to open a big gap on a bunch who was keen on fighting for the stage victory. It didn’t work out, but we are content with our effort and the way we raced.”
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
