{"id":261222,"date":"2025-07-13T09:26:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T09:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/261222\/"},"modified":"2025-07-13T09:26:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T09:26:13","slug":"what-its-like-inside-a-doomed-breakaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/261222\/","title":{"rendered":"What it\u2019s like inside a doomed breakaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What<\/p>\n

Tour de France<\/a><\/p>\n

Their move today was never going to pay off\u00a0\u2013\u00a0but that wasn’t the point. <\/p>\n

\"Iain<\/p>\n

There are distinct tiers of breakaway at the Tour de France. Some of them are the product of hours of churn until the right group emerges\u00a0\u2013\u00a0riders that don\u2019t risk affecting any of the classifications or the plans of more fancied rivals. Some are launched by established heavy hitters\u00a0\u2013 strong riders, but lacking the skillset or physiology to contend for bigger honours. Most of the time, these will fail, too, but sometimes there\u2019s a surprise. And then there\u2019s a third tier: the deeply doomed breakaway that will never make it to the line before the peloton, their purpose only to animate the least animated of stages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s was one of those, from a team that has form in this particular regard. If that sounds like a slight, it\u2019s not meant to: TotalEnergies is a team of plucky French riders who each rarely taste success, which makes it all the sweeter when it pans out. Last year they had their day at the Tour de France<\/a>, with Anthony Turgis slipping into the right kind of group for an underdog win. That stage, on the gravel roads around Troyes, was a picturesque highlight of the 2024 race. This stage, on the flat roads between Saint-M\u00e9en-le-Grand and Laval, was not: it was hot, and it was dull, and nobody really seemed that into it other than the sprinters, myopically focused on the last few kilometres. The only thing introducing a bit of tension into the long hours leading up to the finish? Two riders from TotalEnergies, Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matt\u00e9o Vercher.<\/p>\n

\n

ATTACK ALERT! \ud83d\udea8
Matteo Vercher and @mat_burgaudeau<\/a> decide to animate the race and go together.<\/p>\n

ALERTE ATTAQUE ! \ud83d\udca5
Matteo Vercher et @mat_burgaudeau<\/a> d\u00e9cident d’animer la course et de sortir \u00e0 deux #TDF2025<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/QrO5iISHJr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tour de France\u2122 (@LeTour) July 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The pair ducked off the front just after the intermediate sprint, near mirror images of each other \u2013\u00a0a few centimetres apart in height, similar physique, the same attacking style. Burgaudeau\u2019s move was premeditated; Vercher\u2019s was not. \u201cI was supposed to go alone, but I\u2019m glad Matt\u00e9o came with me. It was a great time, and it will remain a great memory,\u201d Burgaudeau said after the finish. So why was Vercher there? \u201cMore for fun,\u201d Vercher joked.<\/p>\n

\"CTA<\/a><\/p>\n

There’s more after the jump, but you’ll have to be a member to read it. Escape Collective is 100% membership-funded, with no advertising and no affiliate links in our product reviews. Our work is only possible through your support. If you’re enjoying our Tour de France coverage, please join us. <\/p>\n


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Did we do a good job with this story?<\/p>\n

\n \ud83d\udc4dYep
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\n Tour de France<\/a>
\n Mathieu Burgaudeau<\/a>
\n TotalEnergies<\/a>
\n Matt\u00e9o Vercher<\/a>\n <\/p>\n