Published on : 07/11/2023
The man from Toulouse was part of the breakaway that made it to the finish line on Tuesday, on a particularly difficult stage between Vulcania and Issoire in testing heat. Earlier, Bryan Coquard, Ion Izagirre and Guillaume Martin had tried to join the breakaway. Tomorrow, a bunch sprint is expected, and Bryan Coquard will be doing his utmost to challenge for stage victory.
It's a habit that delights all those who want to get away from the summer torpor, and a little less so all the bitumen forcats. Once again, the Tour de France offered an unbridled race, so close to a knockout that the heat seemed unbearable for so long.
Two days after missing out on the breakaway to the Puy-de-Dôme, the Cofidis riders were keen to prove that the show could go on with them. Bryan Coquard was the first of the team's riders to try and break away from the peloton. Then came Ion Izagirre in the same move. The battle was fiercer than ever to catch up with the frontrunners. Guillaume Martin also tried his luck several times.
The day's breakaway finally formed on the climb to the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert. It brought together 14 riders, including Anthony Pérez; a first for the man from Toulouse since the start of this Tour de France, who had been at the front on the roads to the north (stage 4) and Alpe d'Huez (stage 12) in the last edition. Anthony held his own right up to the slopes of the Chapelle-Marcousse hill before conceding ground. Tomorrow, the heat will once again be intense between Clermont-Ferrand and Moulin. The 179.8 km route is likely to be a sprint finish, and a great opportunity for Bryan Coquard to shine.
THEY SAID
Anthony Pérez: "It was a stage for the adventurous that I'd checked off. Unfortunately, I didn't have the legs to keep up on the final climb. It's a real shame, because I had a really good feeling, so I tried to channel myself and time my relays. I love the heat, but there were stronger riders than me. I hope it'll be just as hot over the next few days. If I've recovered well, I could try my luck again the day after tomorrow.