On Saturday July 13, the Intermarché-Wanty team brought the first Pyrenean stage of the Tour de France to life with climber Louis Meintjes and green jersey Biniam Girmay, who took advantage of the opportunity to extend his lead in the points classification.
It took almost two hours for the breakaway to form on this first stage in the Pyrenees, with the mythical Col du Tourmalet climb to climb, followed by the Hoquette d’Ancizan and finally the Plat d’Adet with the finish at the summit.
The lead group of around twenty riders included Louis Meintjes, a protected rider for the general classification, and green jersey Biniam Girmay. The latter edged out his rival Philipsen at the intermediate sprint just before the foot of the Tourmalet.
The leading group thinned out as the race progressed, enjoying a maximum lead of four minutes over the peloton, which was gradually picking up the pace. Louis Meintjes, who skilfully managed his effort, resisted at the front until the final kilometers of the final climb.
At the finish, the South African finished fifteenth and moved up six places in the overall classification to twenty-third. The green jersey of Biniam Girmay consolidates his lead, which he will wear for the tenth successive day, with a lead of 76 points over Philipsen.
Biniam Girmay:
“The intention wasn’t to contest the intermediate sprint today, unless Jasper Philipsen went on the attack, which he did. So I reacted and followed him. I’m happy to score seven more points and do well. After the sprint, there was no question of prolonging the effort to put myself in the red, so I was able to finish the stage calmly and rejoin the gruppetto. Together with Louis Meintjes, we also showed that we can be counted on in the mountain stages, especially in the demanding third week ahead.”
Points classification:
1. Biniam Girmay 353
2. Jasper Philipsen 277
