Tour sensation: Gall secures the mountain jersey after conquering the summit

The tour debutant from East Tyrol completed 1/3 within the fifth level and sensationally drove to the lead within the mountains category.

Something is with Felix Gall came about this year. It’s no mystery that the East Tyrolean is an exceptional bike owner with unique competencies. Since his victory on the Junior World Championships (2015), biking insiders have known that this Felix Gall has a better calling. This season, however, the 25-year-vintage has additionally managed to faucet into his giant capacity and often cause a sensation. “I accept as true with myself a lot extra than I used to,” says the professional from the AG2R Citroën crew

The East Tyrolean become also satisfied of this on Wednesday on the fifth stage of the Tour de France truly noted. On the 162.7 kilometers from Pau to Laruns, the drivers confronted two mighty Pyrenees passes – this is precisely the terrain that Felix Gall offers mountains. “Today I’m going to assault and be a part of the break out organization,” announced the East Tyrolean after breakfast and correctly implemented his plan.

Clever attack

The deserved praise for the courageous and self-assured appearance: Tour debutant Felix Gall is now allowed to wear the mythical dotted jersey – this is the stylish award for the chief within the mountains category at the Tour de France. In the lengthy excursion records, the 25-12 months-antique is handiest the second Austrian Bernhard Kohl (2008) within the polka dot jersey – but the effects of the Viennese were canceled due to a doping offense.

Felix Gall belonged to a large and outstanding top group that sought salvation in flight early on. On the manner to Col de Soudet (1,540), a mountain within the first class, the East Tyrolean attacked and was the first to get over the bypass. With those 20 points, Felix Gall took the lead inside the mountains class on the second skip, the Col de Marie Blanque the 25-year-vintage completed 2d and prolonged his lead in this rating.

Rating is upside down

On the steep climb, Felix Gall had to catch the Australian Jai Hindley allow cross, who finally rode solo to stage victory and as a result additionally the yellow jersey. The professional from the Bora-hansgrohe group, winner of the Giro d’Italia in 2022, added enough cause the end line to show the type the other way up. The preceding chief Adam Yates lost just as tons time as his UAE teammate Tadej Pogačar (SLO), the two-time Tour winner from Slovenia dropped back within the overall standings.

Felix Gall completed 0.33 in the first chasing organization of Jai Hindley. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard became also at his side, the 26-12 months-antique Dane is now the Australian chief’s closest pursuer inside the average standings.

Felix Gall’s attempt to get into the dotted jersey doesn’t come out of the blue. The 25-12 months-vintage had already attracted attention with a stage win at the Tour de Suisse. “I now stand on the starting line with a very exclusive degree of self-self belief,” says the East Tyrolean, who turned into no longer firstly intended for this Tour de France.

After his strong performances in spring, the East Tyrolean changed into taken into account through his French crew and has now repaid the believe with the lead inside the mountains class. At the ultra-modern, Felix Gall has arrived at the top of the arena. As the 25-year-old said: “I’ve made a name for myself.”