Tour de France

The Tour de France resumed on Wednesday with a stage starting and finishing in Toulouse, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, which made a return at the race after six years. The bunch got to ride today through what used to be known as the Languedoc region – a land of myths, legends, and traditions – but the riders were more interested in the final part of this day, which featured two steep climbs, the last of these, Côte de Pech David, crested just eight kilometers from home.

For Remco Evenepoel, the day started with a visit of Champions League winner Eden Hazard, one of the best players in Premier League history, who dropped by the Soudal Quick-Step bus for a relaxed chat and a jersey exchange with his countryman, second in the general classification after ten stages.

The start was insane, as half the peloton tried to make it in the breakaway. Attacks came in waves, and it took more than 70 kilometers for a front group to form. Even then, things remained hectic and a certain nervousness was palpable, underlined by an attack of some of the GC men, who briefly spread panic and split the bunch. Meanwhile, at the front, the five leaders were being chased by another quintet, who despite the small gap separating them, couldn’t bridge across.

Toulouse witnessed the victory of Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) from the original breakaway, while the bunch – including Remco Evenepoel and Ilan Van Wilder – concluded some three minutes behind. Soudal Quick-Step’s Belgian made it unscathed through this fast and complicated day and will start Thursday’s mountainous stage, which brings a finish atop Hautacam, third in the overall standings.

Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images