Tour de France: GC stalemate on opening day in the Alps as Bob Jungels returns to best level to win stage nine

The last time Bob Jungels was in the spotlight was years ago, however the AG2R Citröen Team rider has returned to his best level today and took the win in Châtel after a very long solo attack in the mountains of the Tour de France.

The fight for the breakaway was extended beyond the initial flat section of the stage. The peloton couldn't see a group decisively head up the road, until the first climb of the day which finally saw 21 riders go up the road including Rigoberto Urán who was in the GC fight, and for the main three teams there were Wout van Aert, Brandon McNulty and Jonathan Castroviejo represented.

The gap was never big as UAE Team Emirates worked had throughout the day to keep the group below three minutes. With that, in the Col de la Croix attacks for the stage win came as the peloton quickly came closer, as Bob Jungels attacked with 64 kilometers to go. The Luxembourger pulled clear of the group, and entered the final climb with a gap of two minutes over the group and around three and a half minutes to the peloton.

The AG2R Citröen Team rider has saved the team's race, as he kept the gap at around 30 seconds over the summit against Thibaut Pinot and then had the firepower to hold the gap and ride into Châtel solo. Pinot was caught close to the line, as Jonathan Castroviejo and Carlos Verona completed the podium.

As for the peloton it seemed as if UAE Team Emirates team was setting up an attack for Tadej Pogacar, however there were no attacks as no-one tried to put the Slovenian under pressure. The riders rolled over the line 50 seconds after, as Pogacar and Vingegaard carried a small gap.

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