Unexpectedly, five riders got out of the top 15 in a fairly flat stage marked by echelons yesterday: Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott), Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) and moreover Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who lost the white jersey to Egan Bernal. It might incline those riders to try and avenge themselves in the first big mountain stages to Loudenvielle in Pyrénées. Col de Menté is an appetizer before the first H.C. climb of the 107th Tour de France: Port de Balès, which is followed by col de Peyresourde before the 11.5km downhill to Loudenvielle. This is serious mountain racing. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) is able to retain the yellow jersey on that terrain, but Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) is only three seconds down and time bonus could play its part. The first two stage victories of the Slovenian at the Tour de France were conquered after a downhill, in Serre-Chevalier in 2017 and in Laruns – where stage 9 finish is scheduled on Sunday – in 2018.
