Tour Stage 9 Report: At the end of a mountainous stage from Switzerland back into France, there was a cat and mouse chase between Bob Jungels and Thibaut Pinot. At the finish it was the Luxemburger who took the win as Jonathan Castroviejo and Carlos Verona swooped past Pinot. Tadej Pogačar won the sprint from the bunch to consolidate his overall lead.
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Solo stage win for Bob Jungels
Bob Jungels won the ninth stage of the 2022 Tour de France after an impressive solo of 60 kilometres. The 29-year-old Luxembourger of AG2R Citroën was the best from a large group in the Swiss-French mountain stage between Aigle and the ski resort of Châtel. In the final he held off the chasing Thibaut Pinot, who was eventually caught by Jonathan Castroviejo and Carlos Verona just before the finish. Tadej Pogačar retains the yellow jersey.
The start was from outside the UCI HQ and the president, David Lappartient, was there to see them off
The Route:
The first climb of the day looms with the Côte de Bellevue, less than 3 kilometres at 5.6%. Inland awaits with the Col des Mosses (12.4km at 3.8%). After the Col des Mosses, the stage continues in the direction of the ski village of Le Diablerets, which is one of the oldest winter sports resorts in Switzerland. Glacier 3000 is the best known of the ski areas, it is also at the foot of the Col de la Croix, the next mountain to be climbed. With a length of over 8 kilometres and gradients of 8% and with ramps of up to 14.9%, this is the most difficult climb of the day. It takes the riders to an altitude of 1,779 metres. The race passes the start and the UCI headquarters with about 40 kilometres to go. The last major obstacle of the day is the Pas de Morgins. A 16 kilometre (5.7% average) long climb, the last kilometres are relatively flat, is just before the French border in the Swiss town of Morgins. From here there is a short, winding descent for a final ascent that leads in an almost straight line to the ski resort of Châtel.
Stage 9 profile
Would this be Magnus Cort’s last day in the KOM jersey?
The early kilometres followed the shores of Lake Geneva
The race left Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman) behind
The grapes are not quite ready
Rigo Uran made it into the break
The peloton wasn’t chasing too hard
LL Sanchez at the front of the leading group
Bad crash for Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech)
That man Van Aert crossed to the break
Tadej Pogačar happy with yellow
Bob Jungels attacked the break
Jungels was looking for the stage win
Pinot tried to catch Jungels, but lost all in the end
The win went to a brave Jungels
It was a tough day for the luxemburger
Stage winner, Bob Jungels (AG2R Citroën): “To be honest, it’s huge! A stage win is what I came here for. It means a lot for the team. I come out of a couple of years of struggling, especially last year. This is my style of racing. It’s my style of taking victory. It reminds me a lot of my victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège with Jelle Vandendert coming back. I’m super happy. My shape was getting better day by day. I had to go from far out today, because it would have been impossible to ride away from the favourites in the last climb. I thought I could make up some time in downhill, I knew I wouldn’t explode, but the last kilometre was endless. I took all the risks I could and it happened. I just want to thank my team and everyone who kept faith in me in the last few years. I’m just grateful.”
Rafal Majka led Pogačar out for the sprint
Another good finish for Pogačar
# All the Tour news in EUROTRASH and the ‘Rest Day Round Up’ on Monday. #
Tour de France Stage 9 Result:
1. Bob Jungels (Lux) AG2R Citroën in 4:46:39
2. Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:22
3. Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar at 0:26
4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:40
5. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 0:49
6. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma
7. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:52
8. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
9. Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar
10. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa Samsic.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 9:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 33:43:44
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma at 0:39
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:17
4. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:25
5. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 1:38
6. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM at 1:39
7. Thomas Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:46
8. Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar at 1:50
9. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-EasyPost at 1:55
10. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa Samsic at 2:13.
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