Finnish-born Belgian Kasper Borremans claims the sixth and penultimate stage of the Tour de l'Avenir, the grueling Châtillon-sur-Cluses – Val d'Isère/Col de l'Iseran over 149 km. A victory built on tenacity and sharp racing sense: Borremans closes down Schoofs in the final meters and overtakes him right at the finish line, turning around a finale that seemed already decided. Jackowiak completes the podium, while Lorenzo Mark Finn finishes fourth, gains ground on his direct rivals and consolidates his position in the general classification. Ramirez and Bravo round out the top six.
The day opens with a large breakaway: Penna, Coudiere Cantin, Langella, Negrente, Rowe, Schoofs, Borremans, Jackowiak, Sparfel, Casagrande, Daumas, Loulergue, Brenner, Frigo, Pattinson and Marin. German Penna attempts a solo move, but is caught by a quality quartet: Daumas, Sparfel, Schoofs and Italian Negrente. The climb towards Iseran reshuffles everything: after several attacks, a trio forms with Borremans, Jackowiak and Schoofs.
At 12 km to go, Borremans launches a powerful attack and goes solo, but at 2,600 meters from the summit he is caught by Schoofs and Jackowiak. The Belgian appears to have the winning move: at 600 meters he attacks decisively and opens a gap. But Borremans refuses to give up, closes the gap in the final meters and overtakes him right on the line.
Tomorrow, a grand finale with the Italian stage from Strambino – Ceresole Reale – Lago Serrù over 127 km, finishing at 2,243 meters at Lago Serrù, in the Orco valley, along the road leading to Nivolet, just below Lago Agnel. A decisive stage, a true epilogue to the Tour de l'Avenir.