07/20/19 10:38:00
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07/20 10:36 CDT Alaphilippe still in yellow after first big Tour climb
Alaphilippe still in yellow after first big Tour climb
LA MONGIE, France (AP) --- The first super-tough 2,000-meter (6,500-foot) climb
of the Tour de France proved to be no obstacle for Julian Alaphilippe, the race
leader who kept his yellow jersey while defending champion Geraint Thomas
struggled up the Tourmalet pass and lost time on Saturday.
Thibaut Pinot won Stage 14 up the legendary ascent in the Pyrenees, making
amends for a disaster on Stage 10, when he lost lots of time.
Thomas cracked on the final inclines to the top of the pass and couldn't stay
with Pinot and Alaphilippe, who increasingly appears to be justifying French
hopes that he could become France's first Tour winner since 1985.
"Since the start of the Tour I had this stage in the back of my mind. The
Tournalet, it's mythical," said Pinot, who now has three career stage wins at
cycling's greatest race.
Pinot said he's fuelled by anger at all the time he squandered on Stage 10,
when he was part of a group that got separated from other title contenders in
cross-winds.
"I have this rage inside me, because in my opinion it was an injustice," said
Pinot, a podium finisher in 2014.
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