20-07-2022, 23:56
And once again it was the Pog/Ving Show, with Tadej Pogacar beating Jonas Vingegaard on the line in probably the slowest sprint I've ever seen. Pogacar's team-mate and workhorse, Brandon McNulty, finished an excellent 3rd, 32 seconds behind, with Geraint Thomas coming in 4th over 2 minutes behind the winner. Alexey Lutsenko and Romain Bardet came in a further half minute down.
Pogacar has cut Vingegaard's lead in the GC competition by a massive 4 seconds thanks to the winning time bonus. Any kudos Pog thinks he got by winning will surely count for nothing in the big picture. Thomas consolidated his 3rd position, losing time to the two leaders but gaining substantially over the rest and has 3 minutes in hand over Nairo Quintana and David Gaudu.
As expected, Wout van Aert confirmed he will win the Points Competition if he crosses the finish line in Paris on Sunday.
Simon Geschke still leads the KOM Competition, with the biggest threats coming from Pogacar and Vingegaard in their quest for the Yellow Jersey.
Tomorrow's 143kms stage from Lourdes to Hautacam will be the last mountain stage, which should see the last big chance for Pogacar to upset Vingegaard in the GC race. Vingegaard seems to have the measure of every Pogacar attack and shouldn't allow any significant gap to open up between them. But, as I wrote before, don't write Pogacar off - he's capable of just about anything. After a leisurely start, the race gets into gear with a Category HC climb after 60kms up to the Aubisque Pass, then a Category 1 after 100kms to the Spandelles Pass, ending with the Category HC climb to the finish at Hautacam after 130kms. For me the respective form of Sepp Kuss and Brandon McNulty might prove pivotal near the finish. I'll throw some other names into the reckoning - Michael Woods, Alexander Vlasov and Patrick Konrad.
Lourdes, apart from being the name of Madonna's daughter, is famous all over the world as the most important Catholic pilgrimage site, attracting 5 million visitors annually.
Pogacar has cut Vingegaard's lead in the GC competition by a massive 4 seconds thanks to the winning time bonus. Any kudos Pog thinks he got by winning will surely count for nothing in the big picture. Thomas consolidated his 3rd position, losing time to the two leaders but gaining substantially over the rest and has 3 minutes in hand over Nairo Quintana and David Gaudu.
As expected, Wout van Aert confirmed he will win the Points Competition if he crosses the finish line in Paris on Sunday.
Simon Geschke still leads the KOM Competition, with the biggest threats coming from Pogacar and Vingegaard in their quest for the Yellow Jersey.
Tomorrow's 143kms stage from Lourdes to Hautacam will be the last mountain stage, which should see the last big chance for Pogacar to upset Vingegaard in the GC race. Vingegaard seems to have the measure of every Pogacar attack and shouldn't allow any significant gap to open up between them. But, as I wrote before, don't write Pogacar off - he's capable of just about anything. After a leisurely start, the race gets into gear with a Category HC climb after 60kms up to the Aubisque Pass, then a Category 1 after 100kms to the Spandelles Pass, ending with the Category HC climb to the finish at Hautacam after 130kms. For me the respective form of Sepp Kuss and Brandon McNulty might prove pivotal near the finish. I'll throw some other names into the reckoning - Michael Woods, Alexander Vlasov and Patrick Konrad.
Lourdes, apart from being the name of Madonna's daughter, is famous all over the world as the most important Catholic pilgrimage site, attracting 5 million visitors annually.
Cabbage is still good for you