Jonas Abrahamsen's brutal numbers: the power behind his remarkable stage win
It was another exciting and captivating stage of the Tour de France, with a brilliant finale and winner Jonas Abrahamsen, a rider who nearly missed out on starting the race altogether. Let's break down the power files of the stage winner.
Today, I'm diving into Jonas Abrahamsen's (78kg) remarkable Tour de France stage win in Toulouse, a historic victory for Uno-X Mobility, the team's first-ever Grand Tour stage win, that stands out not only for its raw power numbers but also for the extraordinary circumstances surrounding it.
Before analysing the numbers, let's pause to appreciate the sheer resilience behind this achievement. Just four weeks prior, Abrahamsen crashed during the opening stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour, fracturing his collarbone, a mere three weeks before the start of the Tour de France in Lille.
To recover from a major setback like this in such a short period of time to claim a stage win at cycling's premier event is nothing short of phenomenal. Hats off to Abrahamsen for this incredible performance.
Now let's break down the watts that powered this victory.
Abrahamsen joined the breakaway basically from the beginning of the stage, maintaining a consistent, yet punishing 350 watts for 2 hours and 12 minutes, averaging an impressive 49.4km/h. This relentless pace set the tone for the punishing, steep climbs to come in the finale of the stage, where his performance truly shone.
The finale began with the Côte de Montgiscard, where Abrahamsen unleashed 450 watts for 3 minutes. Next came the Côte de Corronsac, where he averaged 476 watts for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. On the Mervilla climb, Abrahamsen put out 422 watts for 4 minutes and 37 seconds, directly followed by Rebigue, where he sustained 413 watts for 2 minutes and 46 seconds.
After a brief but critical period of recovery, he tackled Vigoulet-Auzil with 464 watts for 1 minute and 54 seconds.
The intensity escalated during the stage's decisive climbs. Abrahamsen reached 537 watts for 3 minutes and 15 seconds on the Côte de Vielle-Toulouse, including a blistering final 1 minute and 14 seconds at 662 watts, where he and Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) went clear of their fellow breakaway companions.
Directly after, the steep Côte de Pech David followed, where he averaged 592 watts for 2 minutes and 27 seconds. The culmination of these efforts was absolutely huge, and what enabled only Schmid and Abrahamsen to remain in front, where they would sprint for the win in Toulouse.
To clinch a historic stage win for Uno-X Mobility, Abrahamsen summoned a colossal 1,135 watts for 15 seconds, a powerful sprint at the end of a brutal and fast stage on the Tour de France. This victory is a testament to his physical prowess and mental fortitude. Hats off again to Jonas Abrahamsen for an incredible performance.
