Tour de France: After non -aggression pact: Pogacar loses yellow to HEALY

When Tadej Pogacar and Rival Jonas Vingegaard ranked their hands after a non-aggression pact in the central massif, the big coup of the little outlier king Ben Healy on the French national holiday was perfect. “This is a fairy tale. If someone had told me beforehand, I wouldn’t have believed it. That is incredible,” said Healy, after he was the first Irishman since Stephen Roche 38 years ago at the Tour de France. “These are crazy footsteps that I step into. I’m super proud,” added Healy.

It was on the Puy de Sancy worried seconds that the third -placed Healy spent in front of a large screen surrounded by numerous camera teams. Because Pogacar had started an unsuccessful attack against Vingegaard again on the final climb. Then the Slovenian exceptional könner left it and rolled over the finish line with Vingegaard 4:51 minutes behind the British day winner Simon Yates.

Lipowitz three seconds behind Pogacar

The German hope bearer Florian Lipowitz followed only three seconds behind, who again delivered a strong performance at the climbing area with 4,450 meters of altitude and eight mountain ratings. “It was a super hard day. Ten days in a row. Everyone was at the limit and I can look positively into the next week,” said Lipowitz of the ARD.

Pogacar could get over to have lost the yellow jersey. This saves his team a little bit of work and a little stress with all the ceremonies – at least for the time being. Pogacar left it on the final climb on an attack. The pace was not too high anyway. No comparison to the previous day, when the second fastest stage in tour history was recorded.

The Grande Nation, on the other hand, has been waiting for a day victory at the Fête Nationale since 2017, but was able to cheer on Lenny Martinez’s mountain jersey at least on the tenth stage over 165.3 kilometers. The fact that the hosts hardly play a role in the struggle for the yellow jersey has been a tradition for 40 years for 40 years of ex-champion Bernard Hinault.

Healy now 29 seconds before Pogacar

Healy used the leisurely pace for his big day. “The stage victory was the dream, yellow is the bonus,” said Healy. The Irishman, who had already triumphed on the sixth stage, is now 29 seconds ahead of Pogacar. Tour newcomer Lipowitz is led to eighth place with 3:34 minutes behind. His German compatriot Georg Zimmermann gave up the race after the violent fall on Sunday.

On the national holiday, the French drivers traditionally put their best effort. Several French belonged to a larger group of outliers. Such as briefly ex-world champion Julian Alaphilippe and Martinez, who diligently collected points for the mountain jersey. This has already been a tradition in the family, his grandfather Mariano Martinez had secured the red and white-scored trikot in 1978. However, it shouldn’t be enough for the first French stage victory on the national holiday since 2017.

In the main field, the UAE team around Pogacar tried not to grow the gap too big. That meant a lot of work for Nils Politt again, especially since Pogacar’s most important mountain helper João Almeida is no longer there after his rib break on Friday. “We will continue to fight with seven drivers and try to win this tour for João,” said Pogacar.

Zimmermann suffered a similar fate, who had fallen heavily on Sunday. After a painful night, the Augsburger waived a start and ended his fifth tour prematurely. Zimmermann fell the day before a drinking bottle. The German champion did not suffer any broken bones, but had to be sewn in two places. Especially on the left elbow, Zimmermann complained of great pain.

On Wednesday, the 112nd tour of France with the eleventh stage continues over 156.8 kilometers around Toulouse. A mountain ranking of the third category could be too heavy for the sprinter. From Thursday, the Pyrenees are waiting.