08-07-2021, 00:55
Tadej Pogacar did indeed increase his overall lead to 5m18s, but looked vulnerable for a few minutes, as Wout van Aert dominated the top class climbers over Mont Ventoux to comfortably win the stage. He is surely a future winner of the TdF, being an excellent time triallist, as well as a close second to Cavendish in yesterday's sprint finish and now a threat to the specialist climbers.
Mark Cavendish made it inside the time limit over 40 minutes behind the winner thanks to virtually the whole Deceunink Quick Step team pacing him home with around 7 minutes in hand. On Stage 9, he made it with only 90 seconds to spare. It's going to get even harder over the next 10 days to keep doing it, but he is on record as saying the Green Jersey is only a bonus, it's the stage wins he wants, which might come in the next couple of days. He currently leads the Green Jersey race by 58 points from Michael Matthews and will surely be safe in the next two days with plenty of points available.
Van Aert is now second in the Polka Dot Jersey competition, only 6 points behind Nairo Quintana. Jonas Vingegaard, the rider who gave Pogacar a real fright today is 5m32s behind Pogacar in the Youths competition.
Tomorrow is a stage made for the sprinters, being 159.4km from Saint-Paul-somethingaboutthreechateaux to Nimes, which lays claim to the fact that jeans originated there - de nimes. Hopefully the riders will speed past the crocodile farm early on in the stage. There is a late intermediate sprint after 132.7km.
Mark Cavendish made it inside the time limit over 40 minutes behind the winner thanks to virtually the whole Deceunink Quick Step team pacing him home with around 7 minutes in hand. On Stage 9, he made it with only 90 seconds to spare. It's going to get even harder over the next 10 days to keep doing it, but he is on record as saying the Green Jersey is only a bonus, it's the stage wins he wants, which might come in the next couple of days. He currently leads the Green Jersey race by 58 points from Michael Matthews and will surely be safe in the next two days with plenty of points available.
Van Aert is now second in the Polka Dot Jersey competition, only 6 points behind Nairo Quintana. Jonas Vingegaard, the rider who gave Pogacar a real fright today is 5m32s behind Pogacar in the Youths competition.
Tomorrow is a stage made for the sprinters, being 159.4km from Saint-Paul-somethingaboutthreechateaux to Nimes, which lays claim to the fact that jeans originated there - de nimes. Hopefully the riders will speed past the crocodile farm early on in the stage. There is a late intermediate sprint after 132.7km.
Cabbage is still good for you