Yates clings to Tour lead amid mountain shake up
Nans Peters scored a first home stage win at the Tour de France on Saturday, with Britain's Adam Yates clinging to the overall lead on a tough Pyrenean stage that caused an unexpected shake-up on stage eight of 21.
BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, FRANCE – JULY 18: Adam Yates of Great Britain and Mitchelton-Scott crosses the finish line following stage 12 of the 106th Tour de France 2019, a stage between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre (209,5km) on July 18, 2019 in Bagneres-de-Bigorre, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Chief amongst the day’s victims was fancied French climber Thibaut Pinot, who dropped out of the race for the overall standings entirely on the penultimate climb.
Peters achieved his win over three major mountains in the presence of French Prime Minister Jean Castex, producing a brilliant long-range solo breakaway.
“I told myself, believe, believe believe,” said the AG2R rider who finished the 141km run from Cazeres-sur-Garonne to Loudenvielle in just over four hours.
But there was also a ferocious battle on the final climb of the dreaded Col de Peyresourde.
Yates, defending Tour de France champion Egan Bernal and French climber Romain Bardet were all dropped and appeared doomed.
Yates caught back up near the summit however while the other two swooped down the daredevil final descent to claw their way back closer to the form men, Primoz Roglic and Nairo Quintana.
Yates leads Roglic by three seconds, Frenchman Guillaume Martin by nine and Bardet by 11.
Ineos leader Bernal is fifth at 13sec, level with three other Colombians – Quintana, Lopez and Uran – in the tightly contested overall standings.
“It was a really fast pace,” said Yates of the last climb.
“I just went at my own rhythm and came back in my own time and I went with them all over the top,” said the 28-year-old Mitchelton-Scott team leader.
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