Monthermé
98.5 km
Sunday 29 March
Les Vieilles Forges (Les Mazures) – Monthermé. 98,5 km. Victory for Jens Voigt at the top of the Côte de la Roche aux 7 Villages. Four time winner of the race, he stands once again as the main contender for the final victory before the time trial in Charleville-Mézières.
Right after the start, Di Gregorio launches the first attack of the stage. He makes it on his own to the top of the Côte des Vieilles Forges, with a 18’’ advantage on the bunch, led by Lelay (AGR) and Engoulvent. In the descent, Voigt (SAX), Lhotellerie, Perez (EUS) and Navarro (AST) catch Di Gregorio. Perez is soon dropped, while Casar manages to join the break away. At the top of the Mont Malgré-Tout, Voigt comes first ahead of Lhotellerie and Di Gregorio, 30’’ before the pack. At the very back of the race, Casper fails to follow the pace and is dropped.
At the top of the Cote de Blossette (km 34), Di Grégorio leads ahead Navarro and Voigt. At the Col du Loup, Voigt takes the lead, followed by Di Gregorio and Navarro. The pack rides 1’20 behind. At the Côte de Perrieres, Voigt maintains a strong pace, with Di Gregorio and Navarro in his wheel, 1’05 ahead of the bunch. Climbing the Côte de Meillier-Fontaine, Lhotellerie gives up and is dropped out of the break away. At the top, Di Gregorio rides in the lead, Voigt and Navarro right behind. Lhotellerie comes 40’’ adrift, the bunch 1’15.
In the downhill, Lhotellerie is caught by the pack. Passing the Côte du Bois de l’Or, Di Gregorio seizes some more points ahead of Voigt and Navarro. But Voigt speeds up and Di Gregorio is dropped. He is even caught by the pack at kilometre 69. At the foot of the second climb of the Mont Malgré-Tout (km 75), the bunch gets closer to the leaders who try and resist. But the pace is too high for Casar who eventually gives up, before being caught at kilometre 76.
Coppel (FDJ) then manages to break away from the pack. At the top Voigt leads the way in front of Navarro. Coppel moves closer at 20’’ while the pack remains 25’’ adrift.
In the descent, the two front men ease up the pace, Coppel hangs on at 35’’ and the pack is 45’’ behind. Moreau (AGR) then gives it a go and takes off from the pack on a counter-attack. He rapidly catches up Coppel. At kilometre 85 the two men remain 35’’ adrift. With ten kilometres to go, Coppel and Moreau are at 23’’, as the pack at 55’’, moves closer. But Voigt and Navarro seem decided to hang on to their advantage. With five kilometres to go, they still have a 28’’ lead over Coppel and Moreau and 38’’ over the pack. Three kilometres from the line the two counter-attacking men are caught back. Voigt then decides to attack with 2 kilometres to go and distances Navarro. Pate, off on a counter manages to catch up and drop Navarro. On the finish line, Voigt captures the win ahead of Pate and takes control of the yellow jersey.
“I knew the stage by heart so I decided to take off early hoping I would be well accompanied and that was the case. I started having slight doubts when I saw the pack moving closer in the final moments, but victory was up for grabs. Concerning the overall win, nothing is done. Indeed the gaps are very slim’’.