fight the heat
The scene opened in Rodez, a city linked with Pierre Soulages, the centenarian painter renowned for bold black, abstract, and informal works. The heat gripped Occitania with unrelenting intensity, pushing organizers to implement extraordinary measures that allowed support drops up to ten kilometers from the finish. Riders drank roughly 12 liters of water at times, sought relief with ice packs tucked around the neck, and stayed focused on finishing strong as the sun beat down.
A rider endured the brutal conditions with grit. Primoz Roglic gave his all but was undone by the harsh surface. The triple Vuelta winner pressed on, yet the day stretched beyond his limits, and he ultimately abandoned the pursuit of the day’s goals. As stages unfolded, two notable stage winners emerged from Denmark and Australia, yet Covid restrictions reduced teams to leaner than anticipated rosters and altered the on-road dynamics for many squads.
Politt and Honoré soon clashed with the relentless asphalt and the fiery energy of Van Aert, who did not miss an escape. The Belgian surged ahead as the peloton refused to let the green jersey slip away. A towering German rider who claimed victory in Nimes last year and a Danish rider, multilingual and studious in economics and marketing, remained in contention. The day highlighted the enduring superiority of a determined young rider who kept pressing toward the front of the race.
Jumbo lost to Kruijswijk
The race continued to tilt away from Jumbo Visma as Politt and Honoré saw their bold breakaway fade. Roglic faced the first setback of his leadership, with Steven Kruijswijk joining the drama on the hot asphalt near the finish. The incident left the leader momentarily grounded with a shoulder strain, heading toward the medical tent for a check.
From the ambulance to the road, a rhythm of misfortune hit the team. Vingegaard shed the yellow jersey on the road but, unlike his teammate, sprang back to his feet, swapped bikes, and rejoined the patient peloton that waited. Leadership carries such risks and rewards, especially when the climate tests durability and teams must improvise mid-race.
Before the climb of the Cota des Cammazes, a 3A segment at 5.1 kilometers with a steady 4.1 percent grade, Politt and Honoré’s escape ended. A new phase began, and once again anticipation met the reality of another breakaway. Two French riders pressed upward toward Carcassonne, chasing options that promised dream more than result, while the field preserved energy for what lay ahead.
Philipsen opens in Carcassonne
The sprint began to take shape as Gauls Benjamin Thomas and Alexis Gougeard mounted determined bids to break away but were always reeled back by Trek, DSM, and UAE Team Emirates steering the finale. Some sprinters recovered from the climbs and rejoined the lead group, ready for the closing kilometers.
The French effort waned like a Soulages canvas, yet Gougeard persisted, intent on leaving a mark beside the UNESCO World Heritage wonder of Carcassonne Castle. Thomas faded first, while Gougeard lingered a moment longer. One rider stood alone against the field, and Ineos stayed forward, crosswinds sharpening nerves as the sprint train assembled. The sprinters moved as a unit, then surged to the front with about 400 meters to go, reshaping the lead battle in an instant.
Philipsen displayed peak form at the finish, the sprint unfolding with tempered equality as a photo finish teased the crowd. Van Aert demonstrated strength in the final bid against Pedersen and Sagan. Carcassonne rose in the background, its walls witnessing a decisive sprint in a city celebrated for its fortifications. The rider’s name would echo through the history of the Tour as a sprint specialist, a testament to precision and timing under pressure.
Looking ahead, the peloton prepared for a third and final rest day in Carcassonne before a decisive week through the Pyrenees. The route would resume with the 178.5-kilometer sixteenth stage from Carcassonne to Foix, inviting climbers and sprinters alike to test their limits in a landscape that has long inspired riders and fans alike.