Halfway to the Tourmalet, frankly, we were not far from covering. Wout van Aert leading the group of breakaways, Sepp Kuss and Wilco Kelderman leading the peloton, there were far too many Jumbo-Visma riders to control the race with 50 terminals to go. We saw the thing coming as big as a house, the rivals wrung out one by one, until the final stage of the rocket, the dazzling attack of Jonas Vingegaard to win Tadej Pogacar and definitively bend the Tour de France, after the demonstration from yesterday. On the evening of the 6th stage, we would have been well advanced.
“Shit, it’s still going to be like yesterday”
But now, Pogi has regained his legs and we have a reason to continue following the race. For once, we can salute the insight of David Gaudu, who had warned Wednesday evening that the Jumbo had “irritated the beast” and that the Slovenian would be “vengeful” in this second major Pyrenean stage. Bingo. The double winner of the Tour (2020, 2021) this time did not let go of a centimeter to his Danish rival, especially when the latter tried to get away from the Tourmalet, 48 km from the line. We saw the white jersey tear off to stay in the wheel, with the energy of someone who knows that if he lets go even a meter, it’s all over.
“I kept repeating to myself ‘I can’t let go of the wheel, I can’t let go of the wheel’, and that’s what I managed to do,” he said smiling on arrival at the France TV microphone. . A few minutes later, he clarified a little the thoughts that had crossed his mind during these four kilometers to follow Vingegaard to the summit. “When he started riding I was like ‘Damn it’s gonna be like yesterday again, we’re gonna get on the bike and we’re gonna go home.’ Fortunately, my feelings were much better today and I was able to follow him. I am really happy. »
The space mine 2.5 km from the summit
On Wednesday, he had indeed exploded in the ascent of the Marie Blanque pass, unable to respond to the defending champion’s attack. After a truncated preparation due to his double wrist fracture in April, Pogacar admitted that he was a little worried. Like his sporting director Mauro Gianetti, he hoped things would get better during the second week, or even in the third. The flashback was faster than expected, since it was finally he who proved to be the strongest in the final climb.
Vingegaard having recovered van Aert to ride at the front, however, we imagined Pogacar remaining quietly in the wheel and still clinging to his rival when the Belgian deviates, before trying to get the stage in the sprint. But no, Pogi was not satisfied with that, it was he who ended up putting a mo-nu-men-tale mine 2.5 km from the summit. This time, it was the outgoing winner who remained stuck. “I felt pretty good and when I felt the right moment, I attacked. It is a great relief,” he commented.
A relief, and a real snub inflicted on the Jumbo. Because the Dutch formation had drawn up a plan with a line, from km 0 to the last meters of this 6th stage. His little soldiers never deviated from it, and everything went off without a hitch. Finally, to within a Pogi. “We tried in the Tourmalet, I think it was seen. I would have liked to unclamp him at that time, the plan would have been perfect if I had succeeded, then I would have had Van Aert to lead the train in the valley, explained Vingegaard once the line had been passed. But he was in much better shape today [jeudi] only yesterday [mercredi]. »
The efforts of the day were still not in vain for the Jumbo, which recovered the yellow jersey. “It’s always a great thing to have him in the team”, savors van Aert, who found the day “fun”. We wouldn’t necessarily have used that word to describe it rolling like a buffalo for 140 kilometers in front, half of which without asking anyone to relay and with three big passes to cross, but that must be because we don’t is not very fun.
Anyway, here’s Vingegaard again in yellow, and it’s not to displease the Dane, even if we’re only finally at the 6th stage and he will have to bear the brunt of the race . “I am extremely happy to be in yellow again, I love the color, it is the greatest symbol of our sport, he reacted. I don’t know if it’s too early, I like this shirt, I’m just going to enjoy it every day. »
Although we thought it was stillborn for a moment, the battle has only just begun. Pogacar took 28 seconds from Cauterets, bonus included, and now finds himself in ambush at 25 seconds overall. “A perfect gap”, salivates the Slovenian. Next meeting on Sunday at the top of Puy-de-Dôme.