In the early hours of June 8th, Beijing time, the 2024 Tour de Doyen S7 (Albertville – Samois 1600) came to a close with a thrilling race. At the outset, 11 riders broke away, among whom Asunó held on until the final 3 kilometers. The main peloton, led by Team Bora, gradually closed in on the breakers as they approached the 1600-meter climb in Samois. Roglic led the remaining contenders into the final kilometer showdown, ultimately dominating and securing victory, donning the yellow, green, and polka-dot jerseys. Here’s a recap of the event.
Starting from Albertville, the 155.3-kilometer course headed northeast, featuring four challenging climbs and one sprint finish. Some strong climbers attempted early attacks, but the general classification teams, including Bora, anticipated a surge around the 20-kilometer mark to catch up. Green jersey wearer Roglic aimed to defend his sprint points and maintain his overall lead.
As the peloton neared Samois, a battle for second place intensified, with Bora pushing to limit the advantage of the breakaway. UAE Team Emirates’ Soler and DSM’s Bagli attacked, but Martin of Cofidis struggled to keep pace. The main group, initially lagging behind by over five minutes, accelerated under Bora’s guidance, chasing down the break.
Solera, having gained a significant lead on the climb to La Maza, attempted to establish an unassailable gap before the 1600-meter ascent. However, he misjudged his energy reserves; the 1600-meter climb had an average gradient of over 11% between km 2-7, after a 29-kilometer break. Facing a fresher Bora-led peloton, Soler’s lead evaporated quickly.
Bora’s mountain train methodically reduced the time difference, and as the peloton struggled on the steep incline, riders like Euphémel of Bora faced fatigue. Euphémel, without QuickStep teammates for support, lost touch with the front, jeopardizing his white jersey and possibly even his overall position.
With just 2 kilometers to go, the exhausted Asunó surrendered, and as the race entered the final kilometer, Laczko from Movistar made a move, but Roglic quickly regained control. He accelerated to leave his rivals behind, with only Jorgensen of Waasleyne managing to stay close but unable to overtake him. Roglic claimed the win, solidifying his lead in the sprint points and climbing classifications, as he collected all three jerseys – yellow, green, and polka-dot.
After the race, Roglic expressed gratitude to his team for their support, allowing him to conserve energy for the decisive stage. In the end, he emerged victorious in the yellow, green, and polka-dot jerseys, while Jorgensen secured the white jersey. The next stage, Tour de Doyen S8 (Tonne – Glière), takes place on June 9th, and fans are eagerly awaiting more action.
Images courtesy of the Tour de Doyen organizers:
[Insert images here]
Race gallery:
[More images]
For more coverage, visit the official Tour de Doyen website or social media channels.