Ineos tried to test Pogacar

Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) took the biggest triumph of his career when he was first up Tignes and won the ninth stage of the Tour de France.

– This has always been my dream. Just being allowed to be here was the frozen dream, says O’Connor in the victory interview.

Slightly down the mountain, Ineos Grenadiers and Richard Carapaz tried to attack joint leader Tadej Pogacar, but the Slovenian responded by parking the entire favorite group and increasing the lead to the pre-favorites.

– This is not possible, exclaimed TV 2 commentator Christian Paasche.

With the stage victory, O’Connor took second place in the summary with just over two minutes up to Pogacar. Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo) follows in third place with 5.08 up to UAE Team Emirates’ captain. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) moves up to fourth place in the summary, 5.32 behind Pogacar.

– It was fantastic by Ben O’Connor! He was actually about to take the yellow jersey. I thought maybe Pogacar thought it was okay not to be in charge. Then Ineos started driving. Then it turns out that Pogacar is superb, sums up TV 2’s cycling expert Dag Otto Lauritzen.

The best Ineos rider in the summary, Richard Carapaz in fifth place, is 5.33 behind Pogacar in the competition for the yellow jersey.

– O’Connor was super strong today. It was a good stage for him. I was a little scared to lose the yellow jersey. That’s why I went to the end. I like this jersey, says Pogacar.

Monday is the first day of rest in this year’s Tour de France.

– There have been many accidents and good riders who have smoked out. I think most people think that it will be good with a short break, says Lauritzen before the first day of rest of the year.

Large break in cool weather

In the dog-cold pig weather on the ninth stage, it took time before the break managed to establish itself, but with just over a hundred kilometers left of the stage, a group of as many as 43 riders gathered in front. The quarry included names such as Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic).

From the huge 43-man crime, there were new attacks. Quintana, Poels, Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation), Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo), Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) and Lucas Hamilton (BikeExchange) eventually got loose and formed a new group in front.

The group was peeled off on the way up Col du Pré and Cormet de Roselend, and on the way down from the latter climb the two Colombians drove from O’Connor, but the Australian for AG2R Citroën brought in Higuita and Quintana before the climb up towards Tignes.

Challenged for yellow jersey

On his way to Tignes, O’Connor was the virtual leader of the Tour de France, but behind him, joint leader Tadej Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates set the pace.

A little Quintana had to drop O’Connor and Higuita on their way up the last climb. With 17 kilometers left to go, O’Connor from Higuita pushed and gained an early lead. With the Colombian duo taken off, O’Connor fought alone up Tignes with a stage victory and the opportunity for a yellow jersey.

In front of the favorite group, Ineos Grenadiers sat in front and set the pace so as not to lose too much ground in the battle for the top places in the summary. Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) tried to attack with about two kilometers left, but Tadej Pogacar had no trouble following. Pogacar responded by attacking Carapaz, who had to release the Slovenian. Last year’s winner kept the favorites away to the finish and increased the lead.

O’Connor had to forget his yellow jersey, but he won the stage. Mattia Cattaneo followed in second place, while Sonny Colbrell (!) Followed in an incredible third place.

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Here, Pogacar’s helper walks out into the ditch

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