The Cofidis runner won this edition after a thrilling final, the winner of the stage, Antonio Pedrero, having put his two cents in. The following three, Mattias Jensen, Rudy Molard and Jaakko Hänninen, finished with narrow gaps identical to the day before.
With seven first riders grouped together in just twenty seconds, this third and final stage of the Tour de l’Ain between the Plateau d’Hauteville and Lélex-Monts jura promises to be demanding with its mountain layout, not to mention the heat, and eventful with the first seven runners regrouped in just twenty seconds. It is the ninth classified at 1min21s from Guillaume Martin, wearer of the yellow jersey Solimut Mutuelle de France, Julian Alalphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) who, after the first difficulty of the day, the Col de Cuvillat (3.3 km to 7.3%), is at the forefront along with Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Soudal), Antonio Pedrero (Movistar) and Andrea Piccolo (EF Education-Easy Post). The lead climbs after 66 km, up to four minutes ahead without the last named. The double world champion begins after nearly seventy five kilometers of breakaway, the first ascent of the Col de Menthières (9.1 km at 6.3%) virtual yellow jersey Solimut Mutuelle de France. Pedrero escapes and pushes his lead to more than two minutes over Alaphilippe quickly joined by Cristian Rodriguez Martin (Total Energies). These two are picked up by the peloton. George Bennett (UAE, 8th, at 54s), also in sight since day one, comes out.
Sensing the Spanish danger, Cofidis, placed in the lead, accelerated. Mattias Jensen (Trek Segafredo) launches an offensive but Martin watches.
At the top of the second ascent of the Col de Menthières 22 km from Lélex-Monts Jura, Pedrero (17th, 2min06s) who does not give up his effort, has a 2min10s lead over Bennett and 2min45s over a group of a dozen ‘men.
The outcome of this 34th edition is played out in the descent and ascent to Lélex. Pedroro is going all out. The victory of the stage is in his pocket but that of the Tour de l’Ain can go to him with the ten bonus seconds to the first. Martin, who reacted, set off in pursuit with Rudy Molard and his Groupama FDJ team-mate, Sébastien Reichenbach, Jaakko Hänninen who can count on the support of Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën Team) and Jensen.
Pedrero arrives as the winner 1min18s ahead of Sweeny (Lotto Soudal) and Bennett. At 1min39s, Jensen won the sprint of the second group of pursuers. The differences in the morning remain the same in the evening! Guillaume Martin becomes the twentieth Frenchman to win the Tour de l’Ain. He is ahead of Mattias Jensen, still 2nd, by 6s, 8s, Rudy Molard and 12s, Jaakko Hänninen past 4th. Pedrero finishes at 17s. “Exceptional to win the race, and exceptional the way we managed this stage”, concludes the Cofidis rider, whose last victory dates back to the Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes in 2021 and the Circuit de la Sarthe 2018 by stages. “We never panicked with the team. It was very tough physically and tactically. We expected to be attacked and we were. »
Numbers
111 starters
86 classified
37.064 km/h average.
