Iván Sosa fastest on Mont Ventoux's slopes to take lead in Tour de La Provence
An Ineos Grenadiers one-two puts them in pole position to wrap up their first general classification victory of the 2021 season.
Iván Sosa of Ineos Grenadiers further underlined his potential by racing to victory on the lower slopes of Mont Ventoux on stage three of the Tour de La Provence.
The Colombian broke clear of the leading group of favourites with just less than 5km left to race, and crossed the finish line at the ski resort of Chalet Reynard 15 seconds ahead of his teammate Egan Bernal.
The 23-year-old’s victory also hands him the lead in the four-day race, and with just one stage remaining, his 19 second advantage should be enough to wrap up the fifth GC success of his career.
It was his 12th professional win and his first since triumphing at the Vuelta a Burgos last summer.
Former Tour de France winner Bernal looked in good shape and sits second on GC, with world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) also appearing in sharp form to ride himself into third place on GC.
The Frenchman rolled home just three seconds behind Bernal, despite setting the pace in the final three kilometres in pursuit of Sosa.
How it unfolded
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Overnight snow on Mont Ventoux put the Queen stage at risk, but fortunately the snow was cleared in the morning and the day gave way to mostly bright skies but with low cloud hanging around the mid-point of the mythical mountain.
Led by Total Direct Energie’s Jerome Cousin and Damien Gaudin, the two Frenchmen were joined in the five-man break by the Italian pair of Nicola Bagioli (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) and Alessandro Fedeli (Delko), and the Belgian Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Soudal).
The peloton let the group of five have a small lead of between three and four minutes, with British champion Ben Swift controlling the gap for some period of time for Ineos Grenadiers.
As they began the 14.6km climb to Chalet Reynard, however, their lead had dwindled to barely a minute and soon after only Bagioli and Vermeersch were left.
Astana-Premier Tech and UAE-Team Emirates crowded the front of the peloton as they ticked past the 10km-to-go marker, the former setting up the first attack of note by its Colombian rider Harold Tejada who bridged across to and then passed the sole leader Bagioli.
But Tejada and Bora-Hansgrohe’s Matteo Fabbro were absorbed by the peloton quickly, and Ineos controlled the ascent towards the ski resort.
With 4.7km before the finish line, Sosa jumped out of the peloton. Gurning and stamping on his pedals, he built what would prove to be an insurmountable lead.
His rivals behind him didn’t respond until Alexander Vlasov of Astana attacked a kilometre later, bringing with him first Alaphilippe and then Bernal.
>>> Fabio Jakobsen says his latest facial surgery was successful
Aware that his teammate Sosa was heading towards victory, Bernal let Alaphilippe lead the chase, and only when Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) joined the duo was Alaphilippe afforded some protection from the wind.
Sosa continued to march towards the victory, his lead increasing from 16 seconds to 23 seconds. Behind, Bernal jumped out of Alaphilippe’s wheel but it wasn’t until the final 100 metres that he managed to shake the world champion for good.
By then, Sosa had already soloed to his first win of the season and into the overall lead with just one stage to go.
Results
Tour de la Provence 2021, stage three: Istres > Chalet Reynard (153.9km)
1. Ivan Sosa (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 4-08-14
2. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 15s
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-Quick Step, at 18s
4. Wout Poels (Ned) Bahrain-Victorious, at 29s
5. Jesús Herrada (Esp) Cofidis, at 48s
6. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
8. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick Step
9. Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain-Victorious
10. Patrick Konrad (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, all at the same time
General classification after stage three
1. Ivan Sosa (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 13-13-16
2. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 19s
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-Quick Step, at 21s
4. Wout Poels (Ned) Bahrain-Victorious, at 39s
5. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 57s
6. Patrick Konrad (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 58s
7. Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain-Victorious
8. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick Step
9. Jesús Herrada (Esp) Cofidis
10. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech, all at the same time.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and feature writing across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in a number of places, but mostly in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains.
He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
Dozens of riders left stranded as National Cycling League announces 2024 season hiatus citing 'current economic challenges in domestic and global cycling industry'
Effective immediately, the NCL paused all its operations in order to focus on restructuring and rebuilding for the 2025 season.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Welsh Grand Départ for first ever Tour of Britain Women, British Cycling confirms
Race will get underway in Welshpool before concluding in Greater Manchester four days later
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers say they will work with British Cycling to get Tour of Britain back on ‘as quickly as possible’
Ben Swift and Owain Doull both say it would be a "shame" were the Tour of Britain to be no more
By Adam Becket Published