Colombian cyclists did not have a good day at Alpe d'Huez

This Thursday, on the twelfth day of the Tour de France, which ended in the French mythical top, Rigoberto Urán and Fernando Gaviria withdrew. Nairo Quintana gave time to the favorites

First it was Rigoberto Urán who said "no more". Or at least his team, that before the injuries of the Antioqueno, and his impossibility to climb to the top, as is necessary in the Tour de France, preferred that his leader dismount before going up Bicycle to start the day of Yesterday The Antioquia, hit after going to the ground in the ninth stage, did not take the game, ending the dream of imitating what was done in 2017 when he was second overall, behind Chris Froome. Then it was Fernando Gaviria, the first leader who did the test and one of the best packers in the world. As soon as the mountain appeared, his legs, infallible in the plane, did not resist and 60 kilometers away he went away. The winner of two stages (the first and the fourth), could not stand the rudeness of a minefield and complicated for those who have no change in front of the steep road.

Third was Nairo Quintana, the key man of Movistar and the one who was diminished by the pace of others, by the intensity with which the mighty Sky takes the peloton at will, as he wants, attacking the morals of others. The Boyacense, who was in the favorites group beating at the legendary Alpe d'Huez, tried to leave several times, but his pedals were not so strong and he was married without problems by his compatriot Egan Bernal, by Geraint Thomas and Froome, and by the Spaniard Mikel Landa, who, in a clever way, did not support his teammate in rush attacks (six kilometers from his home); ascent was missing) and he was helped to be behind the wheel of Vincenzo Nibali and the still struggling Roman Bardet.

The strength of Quintana is diluted and when Heaven has put another step, it had no choice but to regulate itself and to continue at a safe pace so as not to lose of time. Bernal, the strongest gregarious of all, until now, has had an exceptional day. And not to shine, but to bring others as the locomotive dragging trolleys. The 21-year-old man pedaled with such vehemence that in the third curve of the mythical ascent, he already had the fragmented lot, some breathing through his mouth, others clenching his teeth. Great job for the Bogotano high in Zipaquira, as a good gregarious, open when he has exhausted his tank to leave Froome and Thomas, dressed in yellow, but still waiting for the current champion.

Since then, without Colombians in the fore, everything was a game of strategies, some looking at the faces of others, others camouflaging suffering to deceive, and so on. Also with attacks from Bardet and his tireless mind and with Froome's answers and his unorthodox but effective pedaling. Even Landa, who looked weaker with tickets, was also trying to go solo until the finish, but it was impossible with so much marking. In the end, with the fences on both sides of the road, warning that the goal was near, Thomas, the man in yellow, who did not launch a second, attacked and was left to the victory ahead of Tom Dumoulin and Bardet, respectively second and third.

Fourth arrived Froome and fifth, Landa, leaving Primoz Roglic in the sixth box and Nibali, who dropped back meters, in seventh place. The Italian, victim of a fall due to a motorcycle, fractured a vertebra and had to withdraw after his vehemence to end the day. Quintana entered the ninth box, losing 47 seconds with the winner, while Egan made it to 11th, one minute and 41 seconds.

As it stands, Quintana is eighth overall, 4:13 behind Thomas, while Bernal has climbed eight places and is now 18 years old. Only half of the Tour is happening and there are only 148 of the 176 runners who started on July 7th. The mountain will return Sunday and Nairo will have a new opportunity to recover the field, if his physical condition allows it.