20-07-2022, 00:25
Well, I was right about the breakaway winning the stage, but there was only one rider left in the final 40kms. The original breakaway consisted of 29 riders and was gradually whittled down to Hugo Houle who just rode away from everyone else and won by the commanding margin of 1 minute 10 seconds from Valentin Madouas and Michael Woods, who were just 2 seconds ahead of Matteo Jorgensen. Dylan Teuns was 7th and Simon Geschke was 8th.
Houle promised to dedicate a win to the memory of his brother who was killed in a hit-and-run accident 9 years ago and he did so in style, both in crossing the line and immediately afterwards as soon as he came to a halt.
All the leaders in the various categories consolidated their positions, so it's not really worth repeating their names for the umpteenth time.
Tomorrow's stage is the 130kms from Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes. There is an early sprint after 33 kms, which Wout van Aert doesn't really need to bother with, but he will. If he scores points it will be all over with 4 stages to go. Then there is a Category 1 climb at the halfway point, followed by a Category 2, then a Category 1, finishing with a devilish Category 1 climb to the line at the Altiport - yes, another one! - where the last 500m is at 13%. The finishing stretch was made famous to film fans in Tomorrow Never Dies and is actually designated as Altiport007.
This is the second last mountain stage and I'm expecting big things from Nairo Quintana and Geraint Thomas, if they can get away from Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates domestique trains to separate Vingegaard and Pogacar from their support. This is a stage made for Chris Froome if he can get his old legs to work and maybe Enric Mas, who has not quite delivered this year.
Houle promised to dedicate a win to the memory of his brother who was killed in a hit-and-run accident 9 years ago and he did so in style, both in crossing the line and immediately afterwards as soon as he came to a halt.
All the leaders in the various categories consolidated their positions, so it's not really worth repeating their names for the umpteenth time.
Tomorrow's stage is the 130kms from Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes. There is an early sprint after 33 kms, which Wout van Aert doesn't really need to bother with, but he will. If he scores points it will be all over with 4 stages to go. Then there is a Category 1 climb at the halfway point, followed by a Category 2, then a Category 1, finishing with a devilish Category 1 climb to the line at the Altiport - yes, another one! - where the last 500m is at 13%. The finishing stretch was made famous to film fans in Tomorrow Never Dies and is actually designated as Altiport007.
This is the second last mountain stage and I'm expecting big things from Nairo Quintana and Geraint Thomas, if they can get away from Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates domestique trains to separate Vingegaard and Pogacar from their support. This is a stage made for Chris Froome if he can get his old legs to work and maybe Enric Mas, who has not quite delivered this year.
Cabbage is still good for you