Mont Ventoux Challenge 2021: Superman López blows competition away

image: Cor VosMiguel Ángel López climbs to a commanding victory in the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge, which presents a perfect appetizer before the upcoming Tour de France with a double dose of Ventoux. Oscar Rodriguez finishes in second, Enric Mas in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Mont Ventoux Dénivelé 2021

1. Miguel Ángel López (col)
2. Óscar Rodríguez (spa) + 2.26
3. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.33
4. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 3.30
5. Cristián Rodríguez (spa) s.t.
6. Kenny Elissonde (fra) + 4.02
7. Michel Ries (lux) + 4.45
8. Simon Carr (gbr) + 5.41
9. Carlos Verona (spa) + 5.48
10. Geoffrey Bouchard (fra) + 6.10

Race report
Quentin Pacher and Romain Hardy joins forces after a little over 10 kilometres of racing. Magnus Cort, Delio Fernández, Antoine Duchesne, Roger Adrià and Flavien Maurelet bridge across before the seven open up a 3.30 minutes gap. That’s all they get on the first run-in to the Ventoux.

Pacher and Adrià head out together in the first ascent of the Ventoux. After Chalet Reynard the duo widens the gap to more than 4 minutes.

Pacher leaves Adrià behind at the foot of the finish climb, but he does not stand a chance. Miguel Ángel López attacks from the peloton with 13 kilometres remaining to overhaul the lone attacker.

López climbs 1.30 minutes ahead of Óscar Rodríguez past Chalet Reynard. Enric lies in third position, while Ben O’Connor, Kenny Elissonde, and Cristián Rodríguez are desperately chasing at 2 minutes.

Mas rejoins Rodríguez in the lunar landscape after Chalet Reynard and sticks to his wheel.

While López further extends his lead to take the win, an expected late attack by Mas does not happen. Quite the opposite. Rodríguez distances his compatriot just before the steep last corner to finish in second.

Another interesting read: route 2021 Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge.