Ineos executed their plan of attack on today’s pivotal stage of the Tour de la Provence to perfection. Photo: Twitter @IneosGrenadiers
Ineos executed their plan of attack on today’s pivotal stage of the Tour de la Provence to perfection.
Colombian Ivan Sosa won the 153.9km stage to become the new overall leader of the race in what was a dominant mountain top performance on a snowy Mont Ventoux from the British team.
The 23-year-old was followed home 15 seconds later by compatriot and teammate Egan Bernal, with world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) a further three seconds adrift in third.
“It was a pretty difficult stage. The strategy was for Egan (Bernal) or I to attack.
“I think between us we played it well,” Sosa said after the stage.
Despite finishing behind the Ineos duo, Alaphilippe was happy with his performance.
“I am pretty happy with my shape. Today was a good test and I can be content with how I did on a hard climb that commands respect.
“At the end of the day, I have no regrets. It’s a good result, one that gives me confidence for the next goals,” the star Frenchman said.
Carrying a lead of 19 seconds in the GC over second-placed Bernal heading into Sunday’s final and mostly flat 163.2km stage from Avignon to Salon-de-Provence, Sosa should seal overall victory.
Stage three
| 1 | Ivan Ramiro Sosa | COL | 4:08:14 |
| 2 | Egan Bernal | COL | +0:15 |
| 3 | Julain Alaphilippe | FRA | +0:18 |
| 4 | Wout Poels | NED | +0:29 |
| 5 | Jesus Herrada | ESP | +0:48 |
| 6 | Giulio Ciccone | ITA | |
| 7 | Bauke Mollema | NED | |
| 8 | Mauri Vansevenant | BEL | |
| 9 | Jack Haig | AUS | |
| 10 | Patrick Konrad | AUT |
*Selected
| 97 | Nic Dlamini | RSA | +15:12 |
General classification
| 1 | Ivan Ramiro Sosa | COL | 13:13:16 |
| 2 | Egan Bernal | COL | +0:19 |
| 3 | Julain Alaphilippe | FRA | +0:21 |
| 4 | Wout Poels | NED | +0:39 |
| 5 | Bauke Mollema | NED | +0:57 |
| 6 | Patrick Konrad | AUT | +0:58 |
| 7 | Jack Haig | AUS | |
| 8 | Mauri Vansevenant | BEL | |
| 9 | Jesus Herrada | ESP | |
| 10 | Aleksander Vlasov | RUS |
*Selected
| 93 | Nic Dlamini | RSA | +19:15 |
✌️A 1-2 on Ventoux ✌️
The moment @ivansosacuervo crossed the line to complete a fantastic team performance 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zFJZtGzSpb
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) February 13, 2021
