Kaden Groves or the improbable lonely feat of a pure sprinter

The Australian sprinter Kaden Groves has achieved an exceeding of functions as improbable as exceptional on Saturday to win the 20th stage of the Tour de France on the stretch roads towards Pontarlier after a lonely raid of sixteen kilometers.

On the eve of the final arrival in Paris, Tadej Pogacar kept the yellow leader’s yellow jersey with 4:24 ahead of Jonas Vingegaard in an unchanged general classification except the shattering entry of Jordan Jegat in the Top 10 thanks to the escape.

The two favorites remained warm in the peloton, martyred by the rain on a good part of the route, and arrived more than seven minutes behind the winner.

This one is unexpected, because seeing a sprinter impose on a course as rough as that of the Jura is already a sacred feat, even if the Australian (1.76 m, 76 kg) is one of those who best pass the bumps.

Succeeding in solo exceeds the understanding and Kaden Groves, 26, was himself completely incredulous by cutting the line, in tears.

“This is the first time that I have imposed myself solo. I had great legs and when the rain arrived, I thought it even more. I love the cold “he said after bringing the Alpecin team his third victory in this Tour after Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu Van der Poel who have both abandoned.

Jegat is insulted

Groves will still be a candidate for victory on Sunday during the last stage on the Champs-Élysées. In the meantime, he became the 114th runner to raise his arms on the three large towers after having already won seven stages of the Vuelta and two from the Giro. All during a massive sprint of course.

“He proved that he was more than an sprinter but also a magnificent runner. After the abandonments of Jasper and Mathieu, we were a bit lost, but in the end our third leader still brings us back to us ”welcomed its sports director Christophe Roodhooft.

Before seeing the light in the middle of the flood, Groves had to fight like a lion to integrate the good breakaway with twelve other valiant.

Determined to chew the general’s tenth place in Ben O’Connor, the young Jordan Jegat was also forced to cling to keep his place in front where he was not “Not welcome” According to the sports director of the Picnic team who feared that the presence of the French « tue » the breakaway.

Jegat was even rotted by Italian Simone Velasco who “Insulted with all names” To the point of deserving a yellow card, according to French.

“Tim Wellens and other runners told him that he didn’t have to talk to me like that. They told me + yeah a shame you were there + but they understood, it is the game. I wanted to be in the breakaway and it is my right. »»

The post for Grégoire

The Totalenergies climber did not let himself be destabilized and attacked in the Coast of Théy where he was joined and then released by the Australian Harry Sweeny who spent ten kilometers alone in mind before being resumed.

In the end, the mission was accomplished for Jegat who climbed to the tenth row of the general, signifying that there will be, except accident, two French in the top 10 with Kévin Vauquelin, 7th.

“I’m a Breton, I never let go. I put what I had to put on the road. And necessarily I am moved “he said.

Another Frenchman could have shone on Saturday, Romain Grégoire. Very strong on his Franc-Comtois lands, the Groupama-FDJ runner took a few meters ahead of the escape in the descent of the Côte de Longeville.

But, taking all the risks, he went to the fault in a right turn in the company of Ivan Romeo. The two men left for sliding before going violently the sidewalk.

In front, three men whose Kaden Groves took the opportunity to take off. And 16 kilometers from the goal is the sprinter of Alpecin who came off alone to embark on a long time trial in pouring rain.

Metheling the gap methodically, he won almost a minute ahead of Frank Van Den Broek and Pascal Eenkhoorn, returned from behind, while Romain Gréoire finished fifth, yet another disappointment for his Groupama-FDJ team.