Photo Credit: Philippe Pradier / Direct Velo
Taking second place on Saturday’s stage, Oscar Onley and Team DSM were looking to go one better on Sunday’s monstrous day in the mountains with over 4500m of climbing spread throughout the 161 kilometre long route. It was a fast start to the day with lots of attacks before one rider, Pickering, hit out solo before a counter group follows. The Development Team DSM riders supported GC finisher Onley for as long as possible, but heading into the halfway part of the stage the bunch was decimated.
Things regrouped somewhat but on the penultimate climb race leader Van Eetvelt attacked and only Onley could follow. The duo worked well and began to eat into Pickering’s advantage which at that point still stood at four minutes. Onto the steep and challenging final climb of Col de Porte, Onley and Van Eetvelt caught Pickering and would fight it out for the stage win. Digging deep, Onley gave it his all to try and follow the strong moves from Van Eetvelt but the race leader would finally break the elastic and go on to take the stage win. Pushing on the descent and on the sharp rise to the line, Onley would come across the finish to take a creditable second place on the stage; securing the same result on GC.
