Florian Lipowitz showcased his potential on the brutal slopes of the Pyrenees in stage 12 of the Tour de France.
As the peloton tackled the challenging Col du Soulor and the final ascent to Hautacam, Lipowitz stayed near the front, pacing Primoz Roglic and other contenders before his leader faded. The 24-year-old pushed on, finishing strong as third on Hautacam, a remarkable result on one of the Tour’s toughest stages.
“I set the pace on the first part of the climb for Primoz, and I wanted to keep the tempo high”, said Lipowitz. “Then I gave it a go myself. I tested the others, and a gap opened up. I got away with Onley. At first, I stayed on his wheel, in case Primož came back. At some point, I decided to try. We can be really satisfied. After the first real mountain challenge, we have two riders high in the GC. That gives us a lot of options for the coming stages.”
Primoz Roglic added: “It was really fast today, and a big battle unfolded in the last 7km to get to the top of the climb. A day like this is always pretty tiring. Lipo had the legs today so it was a great job from him. When you have the legs, you have to go. I’m really happy and hope he can continue with his level here”.
