Clément Braz Afonso shines again
# Clément Braz Afonso’s Stellar Performance at Tirreno-Adriatico
In what has been an impressive season thus far, Clément Braz Afonso further showcased his talents during stage six of the Tirreno-Adriatico this past Saturday. The 25-year-old French cyclist made a significant impact while navigating the challenging route to Camerino, managing to join the day’s breakaway before fending off the peloton until just seven kilometers from the finish line. Although he was ultimately caught, he demonstrated remarkable endurance and tenacity, maintaining his sixteenth position in the overall standings.
The Saturday stage was notably rigged in favor of the climbers before the final sprint-heavy stage set for Sunday. Riders faced nearly 4,000 meters of elevation gain as they traveled from San Severino Marche to Camerino, where a steep 3 km climb (at 9% incline) was completed three times in the final sixty kilometers. The circuit wasn’t easy, starting with a demanding ascent of Sassotetto (13 km at 7.3%) before the breakaway was formed early in the race. “It started flat out,” commented Yvon Caër, noting the fierce competition with riders such as Wout Van Aert and Mathieu Van der Poel keen to make their move.
With the right breakaway eventually emerging, Clément Braz Afonso secured his place among fellow riders like Filippo Ganna, Vincenzo Albanese, and Gregor Mühlberger. “The plan today was to get into the break… to have Clément there to anticipate and try to go for the stage,” added Yvon. The peloton initially allowed the breakaway a four-minute lead, but that gap diminished rapidly upon entering the final circuit.
Catching a moment of teamwork with Mühlberger, Clément and his companion dropped the remaining escapees on the climactic ascent, temporarily widening their lead back to two minutes. However, they faced relentless pressure from the peloton, reducing their margin and ultimately leading to their capture just seven kilometers from the finish. “Cycling is such nowadays that breakaways rarely make it to the finish,” reflected Clément, acknowledging the uphill battle they faced.
With the favorites closing in at the base of the decisive climb, Clément managed to hold on initially, but fell behind as the pace intensified. “I tried to recover a bit before the final climb, but they dropped me at the bottom,” he recounted, yet he persevered to finish eighteenth on the day, solidifying his overall position.
In the end, team director Yvon described their strategy as a worthwhile gamble, stating, “We tried to put Clément in a position to fight for the stage and potentially move up in the GC… Clément is very happy with his day and so am I. We have no regrets and once again he showed some very interesting things.”
Reflecting on his performance this season, Clément expressed pride in his progress since racing for CIC U Nantes Atlantique two years ago, saying, “I’m really happy with my legs since the start of the season. I couldn’t have imagined this.” This determination is a promising sign for the remainder of his season ahead.
