Intermarché-Wanty showed its resilience in the wake of a difficult day in which green jersey Biniam Girmay, who suffered a crash, consolidated his lead in the points classification on Wednesday July 17.
The Belgian World Team brilliantly managed the first part of this medium-mountain stage right up to the intermediate sprint in Veynes at the halfway point, where Biniam Girmay took first place in the peloton ahead of Jasper Philipsen, scoring 11 points.
Then, a new race opened up behind a quartet with the composition of a counter-attack of around thirty riders, including Louis Meintjes and Georg Zimmermann. The attackers enjoyed a sufficient lead over the peloton to challenge for the stage victory.
At the end of the final stretch, which included the climbs of Col Bayard, Col du Noyer and the uphill finish to Superdévoluy, Louis Meintjes crossed the line in thirteenth place and climbed to twenty-second overall.
Green jersey Biniam Girmay leads the points classification with 387 points, 32 ahead of Jasper Philiipsen with four days to go to the final finish in Nice.
Biniam Girmay:
“What I’m happiest about today is feeling good the day after my crash. Yesterday, I reassured my team-mates that the crash and the lost points were not catastrophic. Mentally and physically, I feel very strong. That’s the most important thing. From now on, the battle for the green jersey is more psychological. I’m happy to have taken points and increased my lead, and to have demonstrated my strength of character. The closer we get to Nice, the stronger I feel, with the finish almost in sight. That’s a huge motivating factor.”
Points classification:
1. Biniam Girmay 387
2. Jasper Philipsen 354
A kitty has been open since the Grand Départ of the Tour de France at the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/TDF-IWA-RestosduCoeur
All donors who show their generosity via this kitty during the Tour de France will be entered into a draw for an exceptional prize: a CUBE Litening C:68X bike, identical to the one used by the Tour de France riders, worth almost €10,000, as well as five Intermarché-Wanty team outfits.
