Fabio Aru's feat was really needed to make the Tour turn the page after the bad chapter of Vittel with the expulsion of Peter Sagan and the abandonment of Mark Cavendish who ended up in hospital. The Knight of the Four Moors had already been seen Dauphiné as he sprinted uphill, perky with a great desire to win again which soon materialized in the Italian championship.
And with the tricolor jersey on, Aru, two and a half kilometers from the finish line on the Planche des Belles Filles, gave the first big shock to this Tour with an angry lunge, furiously pressing on the pedals, an explosive action that blew up the plans of Team Sky who until then commanded the race in preparation for Chris Froome's final smoothie. The Briton will instead be defeated on the first uphill finish of the Tour even if he has been the new yellow jersey since yesterday with 12" on Thomas and 14" on Aru.
Two thousand five hundred meters in the woods of the Vosges, this is the space in which an exciting spot for cycling was created, starring the Sardinian who didn't allow himself a break to catch his breath, pulling straight towards the finish line on slopes that in the last km came close to 20 percent. Even Froome was surprised by the vehemence of the Italian champion's attack, he looked in vain for alliances to chase, then he understood that he had to go it alone.
But it was too late: Aru won with his eyes and the fist of his right hand raised to the sky in memory of Michele Scarponi: a great triumph that repeats the one in the 2014 Tour of Vincenzo Nibali, also dressed in the tricolor, when the Shark resumed the yellow jersey to take her to Paris.
Without taking anything away from that of Nibali, Aru's success takes on even greater value because the leader of Astana has lined up the best of the company, from Froome to Quintana, from Contador to Richie Porte. In 2014 Froome and Contador weren't there, forced to retire due to crashes in the first stages and Quintana, winner of the Giro, had deserted the Tour.
Between detachment and bonus Aru gained 26" net from Froome who finished third at 20", also preceded by Daniel Martin. Porte was fourth with the same time as Froome. Immediately after at 24” came Romain Bardet, who after Thibaut Pinot's flop, who went into crisis on the first final ramps, remains the only Frenchman in the top ten of the standings at 47” from Froome.
Sixth at the finish, 26” from Aru, was Simon Yates followed by Uran and Contador, the Pistolero who in the last km with a surge of pride was about to hang up Froome's train. Of the big names, the least on the ball appeared Nairo Quintana, ninth at 34”, unable to hold on to the terrain most congenial to him, not only with Aru's sprint but also with Froome's pace.
A disturbing signal for the Condor, the leader of the Colombians, in whose patrol Esteban Chaves continues to disappear and disappoint. Geraint Thomas finished in 10th place at 40” handing the yellow jersey to his captain Froome, who with great sportsmanship congratulated Aru on the podium for his performance.
A sort of investiture of the Sardinian by the British as his main rival for victory in this Tour, which appears to be the most uncertain and least obvious in recent years thanks also to Aru who leapt forcefully into the center of the fray, who for the moment is enjoying not only the first victory in the Tour also his first polka dot jersey as leader of the climbers.
