Anthony Turgis emerged victorious from a gruelling breakaway, clinching the ninth stage of the 2024 Tour de France in Troyes. The Frenchman outsprinted Tom Pidcock and Derek Gee to secure his win.
“It’s incredible, it was a long time since I did not win,” Turgis expressed. “It was a long day, the team put its trust in me by giving me carte blanche today. I dedicate this win to all the people who trusted me.”
The stage, notorious for its 33 kilometres of gravel, saw Tadej Pogacar launch numerous attacks but fail to gain any time over his main rivals. Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, who managed to keep up with the Slovenian, finished together 1:48 behind Turgis.
In the post-race conference, Pogacar, a lover of gravel terrain, explained, “It was just that I like to ride on the gravel, I guess. It’s in my nature, I think. Also, it’s way better to ride in the front than in the back so I tried a couple of times to make a gap, but with the headwind, it was pretty, pretty shit, so…”
The day began with a flurry of attacks, resulting in a group of 10 riders, including Turgis, breaking away early. As they approached the gravel sectors, a traffic jam formed, forcing many to dismount and run. Vingegaard and Pogacar managed to avoid the chaos, but Primoz Roglic fell behind before bridging the gap.
Photo Credit: ASO-Billy CeustersPogacar’s relentless attempts to break free were consistently countered by Vingegaard, who did not take his turn in the lead. This led to Evenepoel’s frustration as he saw opportunities slip away. “I think Tadej and I were not happy with it because maybe the whole Tour could have been decided today,” he remarked. “We have to accept race tactics and race situations, but sometimes you also need the balls to race, and unfortunately maybe Jonas didn’t have them today.”
Despite the defensive riding from Vingegaard, Pogacar remained optimistic, understanding the tactical choices made. “Honestly, I don’t know. I expected that, honestly,” he said. “Today me and Jonas could have ridden away from the other GC guys – or when it was me, Remco, and Jonas to secure the podium places more. It’s just the way I’m seeing it, but everybody has their own race. I can’t say anything against that. It’s just the way it is.”
Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock, who had led the breakaway for 150 kilometres, was left reflecting on a missed opportunity after finishing second. “It was full gas all day. It’s crazy how high the level is at the Tour. I just missed this opportunity,” he admitted. “But I think I can be proud of that. I’ve struggled in the first part of this race. When it’s not going right, it’s difficult.”
The gravel proved challenging for many, including Frank van den Broek, who described the conditions as tough. “The gravel was very loose and you were sliding a lot, especially through the turns and bends. Sometimes behind the peloton or the cars, it was one big cloud of dust, so then you could only hope you were going in the right direction.”
The race saw mechanical issues play a significant role, with Vingegaard receiving a bike from teammate Jan Tratnik after suffering a problem. This teamwork kept him in contention, yet it also led to a conservative approach in the crucial moments.
As the riders look forward to their first rest day, Pogacar retains a 33-second lead over Evenepoel, with Vingegaard 1:15 behind. Roglic remains in fourth place, 1:36 off the pace. The Tour also paid tribute to Andre Drege, the Norwegian rider who tragically died in a crash during the Tour of Austria. To honour his memory, Uno-X Mobility riders led a moment of applause at the start.
Photo Credit: ASO-Billy Ceusters2024 Tour de France Stage 9 result
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All photo credits: ASO – Billy Ceusters & Charly Lopez
