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Paris saw the end of the men’s Tour de France and the start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. All the reports, results and video, plus the Tour de Wallone. Mark Cavendish going to B&B Hotels – TOP STORY. Rider news: Primoz Roglič broke two vertebrae, Miguel Ángel López investigated for drug trafficking, Jumbo-Visma strengthens with Attila Valter, Simon Yates and Michael Matthews extend with BikeExchange-Jayco and Stefan Küng to DSM? Monday coffee time.
TOP STORY: B&B Hotels, Cavendish Very Possibly a New Signing
B&B Hotels-KTM, the ProTeam led by Jérôme Pineau, is in advanced negotiations with Mark Cavendish to become the sprint-leader of the squad for the next two years. Cav and Pineau have known each other since they were both with Quick-Step.
For months, rumours have been buzzing about the renewed project of manager Jérôme Pineau’s ProTeam, but the 42-year-old Frenchman has not said much. What we know is that Carrefour will be a sponsor and the team’s budget would be significantly increased, although this has been denied by Pineau. Het Nieuwsblad has now found out that the city of Paris will actually play an important role in the team from 1 January 2023. With this project – which bears the name ‘Paris Cycling Club’ – the French capital wants to profile itself not only towards the Olympic Games in 2024, but also as a cycling capital. B&B Hotels would also remain on board.
In the project with the French capital – where the headquarters of the team will be located – a brand new women’s team and a youth academy will also be part of the project. Audrey Cordon-Ragot should become the leader of the women’s team. The 32-year-old comes from Trek-Segafredo. Mark Cavendish would become the leader of the men’s team. Cav has to leave Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl and has a very attractive proposal from Pineau on the table to end his career. Interesting for Cav of course, because Pineau’s team can be assured of a place in the Tour de France.
The Manx Man can still break the 34 Tour stage wins record of Eddy Merckx. Pineau is also willing to invest in a good lead-out for the British sprinter. WielerFlits previously reported that Cees Bol is interested in a proposal from the ProTeam. Perhaps Bol will fit in that train. In recent days and weeks, Pineau made moves to Dylan Teuns, who is going to Israel-Premier Tech, and Michael Matthews, who remains with BikeExchange. According to Het Nieuwsblad, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) also has a nice offer in his pocket. Undoubtedly to be continued…
Cavendish to B&B?
Tour de France 2022
Jonas Vingegaard took his second stage of the Tour de France in Hautacam, his first wearing the yellow jersey. He extended his lead over Tadej Pogačar as he rode the last 3.5km solo at the end of an eventful Stage 18. Green jersey holder Wout van Aert rounded out the stage podium after riding at the front for most of the day. Vingegaard looks like a solid leader with three stages remaining.
Three non-starters after they returned a positive test for Covid-19: Chris Froome (Israel-Premier Tech), Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) and Imanol Erviti (Movistar). Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) attacked from the gun. Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) went with him but couldn’t hold his pace. Nils Politt (BORA-hansgrohe) and Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Victorious) counter-attacked. Van Aert was brought back by the front part of the peloton at 13km. He forged on and took a few riders with him but six others managed to go clear after 20 kilometres: Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Andreas Leknessund (DSM), Stan De Wulf (AG2R-Citroën), Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Soudal) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco). It was all together again at 33km as Cofidis rode hard to put polka dot jersey holder Simon Geschke in a better position before the climb to col d’Aubisque. 36 riders gathered at the front, but three of them, Florian Sénéchal, Yves Lampaert and Mattia Cattaneo, all Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, sat up to wait for the peloton. Geschke missed out again and had to say goodbye to the polka dot jersey.
About 20 riders climbed to col d’Aubisque together while Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) escaped the yellow jersey group. Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) crested the Aubisque in first position before Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Van Aert, 45 seconds ahead of Meintjes and 3:20 ahead of the yellow jersey group. Up to col des Spandelles, Van Aert, Pinot and Martinez found themselves at the front 5 kilometres before the top while Pogačar attacked on several occasions: 7km, 5km, 4km, 3km and 2km before the summit but Vingegaard always managed to stay with him. Both riders had a fright on the descent, the yellow jersey coming close to crashing as the white jersey put him under pressure. Eventually, it was Pogačar who crashed on a bend. Vingegaard waited for his rival who thanked him for his fair-play.
Pinot was first to accelerate in the leading trio with 12.5km remaining. The three had an advantage of 1:30 over the yellow jersey group led by Sepp Kuss ahead of Vingegaard, Pogačar and Thomas 10km from the finish. 1km further, Van Aert attacked. Martinez followed him but Pinot couldn’t. Thomas lost contact to Kuss, Vingegaard and Pogačar who caught Van Aert and Martinez 5km from the summit. A leading trio had three jersey holders: Vingegaard, Van Aert and Pogačar. Pogačar couldn’t hold on 4.5km before the summit. Vingegaard rode away from Van Aert with 3.5km to go and soloed to victory. The Dane had 40 seconds lead over Pogačar with 2km to go and crossed the line 1:05 before his rival, which also put him in the lead of the King of the Mountains competition. Thomas defended his third place while David Gaudu edged out Quintana for fourth.
# You can see more photos in the full PEZ ‘Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner, KOM and overall leader, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): “This is unbelievable. This morning I told my girlfriend and daughter that I wanted to win for them and I did. I am super happy”, Vingegaard said. “It was a tough day and I’m glad it’s over. The team was super strong and I want to thank Wout, Sepp, Nathan, Tiesj and Christophe. I won thanks to them. Tadej was strong and made some solid efforts on the Col de Spandelles. I was afraid he would attack again on the final climb because I was at my limit. Luckily I had Wout with me who was able to make the difference.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “There couldn’t be a better way to lose the Tour de France than this. I gave it all today thinking of the GC. I will leave the race with no regrets. There is still one stage left I might win before Paris, and I will push for it. Jumbo-Visma has been perfect in this Tour de France. Chapeau to them, as they have been really strong every day. As for today, the best man won. Jonas [Vingegaard] was stronger than me. I already gave it all on the second-to-last climb, but I feel I still had something left for an attack on the final climb. Unfortunately, I crashed, and the crash took its toll from me. I tried to follow the Jumbo-Visma guys all the way to the summit, but they were too strong. I have nothing but respect to Jonas Vingegaard. I think we respect each other a lot. When he decided to wait for me after my crash, he was on a good position to do it as he had teammates all over the road. It was fine for him to wait. It’s me who wanted to go fast on the descent, but I pushed it too far and crashed – can’t blame anyone for that.”
Points leader and 3rd on the stage, Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): “Above all, I’m proud of everything the team has done today. Personally, I’m proud to have contributed to it. When I heard that Pogačar got dropped, I thought I had to give all the energy that was left in my body. That’s what I did and Jonas managed to continue solo for three kilometres. After the signal UAE Team Emirates gave yesterday, we wanted to attack today. We had to handle the responsibilities. That’s why I attacked from km 0. It was crazy… one of the most incredible days in my career. I finish third and that was maybe a good test to know if I can target the Maillot Jaune one day. But I managed to do that today whereas I lost twenty minutes yesterday. To do during the whole Tour is another story. I realise that I could also have the polka dot jersey. Had I known, I would have sprinted at the Aubisque!”
6th on the stage and 7th overall, Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe): “It was so hard today from the start. There have been many attacks, but no group was allowed to break away. The first climb was easy then in the GC group, that’s why a lot of guys jumped. I also tried it once when Mas and Meintjes moved away, but Quintana and Gaudu have been immediately on my wheel. From there on I just rode conservatively, also with the last climb in my mind. On the penultimate climb when the race exploded, I was in difficulties, but I was able to ride my on rhythm and it was perfect to have Max and Patrick waiting for me. We came back in the downhill and also in the beginning of the last climb they did a great job. When Gaudu attacked I just stuck to my rhythm again and on the last five kilometres I had still some energy left. I think we did no mistake today, judged the effort well and did the maximum in the end.”
11th on the stage and 6th overall, Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux): “I saw an opportunity to anticipate on the Col d’Aubisque. And a little after my attack, I was nicely surprised by reinforcement of Georg Zimmermann and Kobe Goossens. Even though the gap with the breakaway was unfortunately too big to bridge, their support was really helpful to build a nice advantage on the favourites before the foot of the Col de Spandelles. When I heard that Vingegaard and Pogačar were rapidly coming closer, I increased my rhythm to reach the top as fast as possible. Thanks to this intense effort, I could start the final climb with the top three of the general classification. On the final climb towards Hautacam I was forced to slow down, which enabled Vlasov to get a little closer to me in the general classification. I’m happy with my current sixth place. But I stay focused and I’m preparing for the next stage which will probably highly contested again, because the sprinters don’t want to miss this chance.”
Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl): “This morning I didn’t know what to expect after the previous two hard days, I didn’t know how the body would respond, but I remained calm and confident, knowing I could rely on this incredible team. We fought hard again and managed to overcome this stern test. I wouldn’t have done it without these guys. As a sprinter, you are nothing without a team, so I owe everything to this squad and I’m grateful for their effort, and at the same time, proud that I got here with them. I’m happy that Paris is closer and closer now.”
Tour de France Stage 18 Result:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 3:59:50
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 1:04
3. Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma at 2:10
4. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 2:54
5. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 2:58
6. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 3:09
7. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma at 3:27
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 4:04
10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 4:09.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 18:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 71:53:34
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 3:26
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 8:00
4. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 11:05
5. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa Samsic at 13:25
6. Louis Meintjes (SA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 13:43
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 14:10
8. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM at 16:11
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 20:09
10. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 20:17.
Tour’22 stage 18:
Christophe Laporte gave the host country a Tour de France win as he powered to victory almost 2 kilometres before the finishing line of Stage 19 in Cahors. He surprised pure sprinters Jasper Philipsen and Alberto Dainese who finished second and third. He was given the green light from Wout van Aert to get the team’s fifth stage victory in this Tour de France, his first at the age of 29. Jonas Vingegaard held his overall lead two days before reaching Paris.
Mikkel Honoré (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) and Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) rode away at km 4, quickly joined by Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) and Nils Politt (BORA-hansgrohe). They got a maximum advantage of 1:30 as sprinters’ teams like Lotto-Soudal, Alpecin-Deceuninck, BikeExchange-Jayco and DSM kept them close, riding fast with a three-quarters tailwind. Simmons won the intermediate sprint at Auch (38.4km) where a tribute was paid to the late Nicolas Portal who was the head sport director of Team Sky. The breakaway group was almost reeled in at Fleurance after 53 kilometres. Politt sat up but Honoré relaunched the move and Simmons, Mohoric and Van der Hoorn went with him. Cyril Barthe (B&B Hotels-KTM) escaped from the peloton but failed to bridge the gap by a mere 5 seconds. The Frenchman was brought back and the advantage of the quartet went up again: 1 minute at 80kms.
Philippe Gilbert led the bunch for most of the race for Lotto-Soudal, with other sprinter’s teams like BikeExchange-Jayco, Alpecin-Deceuninck and DSM also involved in the chase. Simmons attacked up the hill to the medieval town of Lauzerte. Mohorič went with him to sprint for the cat. 4 KOM. Simmons continued solo with 48km remaining. He was brought back 13km further on. Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM) counter-attacked and the next rider who tried to escape from the peloton after having had a bike change due to a mechanical was Tadej Pogačar! Wout van Aert reacted quickly.
Gougeard was joined in the lead by Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) with 32km to go. The trio rode into the last 20 kilometres with 30 seconds lead over the peloton led mostly by TotalEnergies. Lotto-Soudal took over with Brent Van Moer. Stage favourites Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco) pulled the peloton as they were racing for Christophe Laporte and Dylan Groenewegen respectively. Wright attacked, but 1.5km before the end, Laporte was the first rider to catch the trio and he put the hammer down. He accelerated a second time 500 metres from the line. He continued his effort on a slightly uphill road to take the first French stage victory of the 109th Tour de France while Pogačar sprinted to fifth place.
# You can see more photos in the full PEZ ‘Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma): “This is the best day of my career. It’s still hard to believe, but I’m super happy with this victory and the confidence the team gave me. With five kilometres to go, Wout said: ‘It’s for you’. Our main goal was to drop Jonas safely within the three-kilometre mark and once we had achieved that, I got the green light to sprint. I went into the sprint early. I accelerated in the last corner and was surprised to see that I had a gap on the rest of the peloton. I made the connection with the three leaders and at five hundred metres before the finish line, I decided to go full speed. When I looked behind, I didn’t see anyone. It’s unbelievable that I won. This was my day. The move to Team Jumbo-Visma is the best choice I’ve made in my career. I have never been in such good shape as I am now. In the run-up to the Tour, we went to altitude training for five weeks and that was a good experience for me. Team Jumbo-Visma prepared everything to perfection and I am thrilled to be part of one of the best teams in the world.”
Overall leader and KOM, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): “It’s a relief, because it was dangerous with the wind. We had to stay up front all day and be careful. We were. Fortunately I reached the finish safely. We even won the stage in the end, unbelievable! I am very happy for Christophe (Laporte) because he is a nice guy. It was an incredible day. Normally I’m not that bad at time trials. It is quite a technical course. I have to do my best and hopefully it will be enough. I hope it will be a nice day.”
2nd overall, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “Today’s was yet another fast stage. It was a bit boring at the beginning, but it got more fun towards the end. It was a hard and fast final, so I gave it a go, doing my best. One more day. My puncture? Thank you to my team for its hard work. Even if we were only four to pull, after my puncture, I was back in the peloton in no time. The ITT tomorrow? It’s been a tiring Tour, and tomorrow is a tough ITT. I don’t know what I will be capable of doing, but one thing I know is I’ll give it all. I rode the course twice as a recon. It’s tough, with rough, slow asphalt. It will still be fast anyway, with two little climbs in the end. It will be long and hard. I don’t see any big surprise happening, but you never know.”
7th overall, Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe): “The start was quite hectic because everybody was expecting crosswinds. When the sprinter teams took control, it was easier, but still really fast. At the end it was tough to stay in position for the final. Some gaps opened and you had to be attentive to don’t lose any time. It was a good day for me, the team did a great job again and my legs have been quite good.”
Points leader, Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): “It was a super fast stage, with a small possibility of crosswinds that pushed us to stay at the front. I felt good throughout the stage and kept Jonas [Vingegaard] safe all the way to the final kilometres, when I finally switched off to take a breath with my mission accomplished. I’ve known Christophe [Laporte] for years, not only as a teammate. We have been racing together a lot this season and I’ve seen firsthand how he can be strong on the flat and the lead-outs, but also in the mountains and the small climbs as he has shown these days. Normally this would have been a sprint for me, but I was feeling a bit tired in the morning after all the efforts I did yesterday. It would have been difficult for me to win and the green jersey is already secured, so it was nice to give Chris a chance to do his own thing. He works a lot for the team and he deserves it. It’s beautiful that he won, and I’m very happy for him. Tadej [Pogačar] takes every little opportunity to attack. I like the way he races. We have to stay focused on every single moment of the race in order to follow his moves. I will try to win again on tomorrow’s time trial. I hope to have good legs – better ones than today!”
Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux): “We knew that it could be a tricky stage, so our priority was to protect Louis and to guide him to the finish without time loss. My role was to join an interesting breakaway in the beginning of the stage and to anticipate eventual movements in the peloton. We attacked with a group of five strong riders and we had to work hard to keep an advantage of one minute. Matej Mohoric accelerated in the hill zone, we were all on the limit and the breakaway exploded. From that moment, I was determined to use my last forces in service of my teammates by protecting them from the wind towards the next climb. The solid performances of Louis motivate us to accomplish our mission each day. If everything goes well during the time trials, we will be seven riders to accompany him to Paris. Among whom Kobe Goossens, who is fighting the pain since his bad crash. This shows how strong we are collectively, and how motivated we are.”
Tour de France Stage 19 Result:
1. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma in 3:52:04
2. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:01
3. Alberto Dainese (Ita) DSM
4. Florian Sénéchal (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
5. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
6. Amaury Capiot (Bel) Arkéa Samsic
7. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
8. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
9. Luka Mezgec (Slo) BikeExchange-Jayco
10. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 19:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 75:45:44
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 3:21
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 8:00
4. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 11:05
5. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa Samsic at 13:35
6. Louis Meintjes (SA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 13:43
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 14:10
8. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM at 16:11
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 20:24
10. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 20:32.
Tour’22 stage 19:
Wout van Aert won the individual time trial Stage 20 on the eve of the grand finalé of the Tour de France in Paris like last year. The green jersey wearer beat his team-mate Jonas Vingegaard who secured the yellow jersey. Tadej Pogačar rounded out the podium.
Stage 20 was a 40.7 kilometre individual time trial from Lacapelle-Marival to Rocamadour. One non-starter: Nathan van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma). Eleventh on the starting ramp, Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) who is a 3-time World U23 TT champion set a good reference time of 50:22. He remained on the hot seat for 45 minutes and it was no surprise to see Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) taking over the lead. The World TT champion covered the course at an average speed of 50.2kph. He finished strongly and his advantage of 13 seconds over Mattia Cattaneo (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) at about half way (22km) was 43 seconds at the finish.
Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), who has been one of the most combative riders of the 2022 Tour de France on his second participation at the age of 23, took a provisional third place at the finish with a deficit of 50 seconds. European champion Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), second in the ITT in Laval last year, kept losing time to Ganna at all three time checks: 5 seconds, 13 seconds and 48 seconds. The Swiss specialist was 1:13 down on the Italian at the finish. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) threatened Ganna’s lead. The green jersey holder was 14 seconds faster at the first check point (10km), 25 seconds at the second check point (22km), 23 seconds at the third check point (32km) and he completed the stage in 47:59 at the average speed of 50.9kph, beating Ganna by 42 seconds.
The suspense for the yellow jersey was short lived as Vingegaard started faster than Pogačar and looked at all time checks that he was also going to win stage 20. But the Dane had a fright on one curve towards the end and he relaxed a bit once he knew he was bringing the Maillot Jaune safely home. Beating Pogačar in the closing time trial confirmed his superiority on the 2022 Tour de France. Changes on GC saw Aleksandr Vlasov moving up to 5th and Romain Bardet to 7th while Nairo Quintana dropped down to 6th and Louis Meintjes from 6th to 8th.
# You can see more photos in the full PEZ ‘Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner and points leader, Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): “This is unbelievable. These three weeks are beyond comprehension. We are riding with a powerful team. I thank the whole team and the entire staff from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to me. We are making our dreams come true. Dreams for which we have been working very hard for so long. Today in the time trial, another dream scenario took place. I gave everything to achieve this. I think I organised my time trial perfectly. I live to win races. Jonas can bring the yellow to Paris tomorrow. It’s really very special to be part of this team.”
Overall leader, KOM and 2nd on the stage, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): “We wanted to go for it again today. This team is incredibly strong and hungry. Wout’s victory is beautiful and moves me. Afterwards, we looked for each other and shared our emotions. It shows that we are very attached to each other within the team. We have always had the feeling that we are working on something extraordinary. Everyone is super happy for each other. They are not only my colleagues but, above all, my friends.”
2nd overall and 3rd on the stage, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “I’m happy that this Tour de France it’s over. It’s been a good three weeks, with many ups and downs, with lots of bad luck for my team, but the battle between me and Jonas [Vingegaard] for the yellow jersey has been very special. I think we have some very interesting next two or three years ahead of us. Jonas has stepped up his game this year. He took the reins from the beginning and proved that he is a solid rider throughout the whole Tour. As for myself, I’m motivated and looking forwards to the next challenges. The white jersey is also a special one. It’s the third year in a row that I bring it home, and I’m pretty happy with it.”
3rd overall and 4th on the stage, Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers): “I’ve been very consistent this Tour, but I still had no idea where I would end up. To be on the podium again in Paris is very special. I am happy that I was able to perform at a high level for three weeks, although of course you always want more. I would have loved to have won the time trial, but when you see how Wout van Aert rode in this Tour… Then you know that thirty seconds behind is not bad.”
5th overall, Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe): “I suffered so much during this Tour, it is nice to have only one day left to Paris. Today, like the last days, I felt a lot better than last week. I think the TT was ok, not my best, but ok. We achieved our goal to get into the top 5 and I am really happy about that. After all those setbacks starting with Covid after Tour de Suisse, the crash in the first week and the cold I had in the Alps, it’s a relief and I think we really deserve this result.”
9th on the stage, Maximilian Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe): “Actually, I didn’t feel really good this morning. I had a nap in the bus from 1pm to 2pm and after that I felt a lot better. I was able to push from start to finish and also managed the temperatures really well today. After my crash I suffered until the second rest day, from there on I got better again day by day. I am really happy with my performance today and this also makes me confident for my next races like San Sebastian next weekend.”
8th overall, Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux): “In the mountains, I gave a lot to climb into the top ten of the Tour de France. I was on the attack several days. The last couple of days I accumulated fatigue, recovery became slower. I gave everything in this decisive time trial, but unfortunately this wasn’t enough to keep my sixth position. I know how it feels to reach Paris in eight position in the general classification, because it will already be the third time after 2016 and 2017. Only last year I finished the Tour de France at another position. We usually race very fast on the Champs-Elysées, those cobbles are not a present. But crossing the centre of Paris through all those people, that’s magic. Reaching the finish line with a complete team, celebrate our achievements with the riders and staff you worked and lived with for three weeks, being welcomed by my fiancé… These are unforgettable moments.”
Tour de France Stage 20 Result:
1. Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma in 47:59
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma at 0:19
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 0:27
4. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:32
5. Filippo Ganna (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:42
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo at 1:22
7. Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl at 1:25
8. Fred Wright (GB) Bahrain-Victorious at 1:32
9. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe at 1:37
10. Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious at 1:48.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 20:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 76:33:57
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 3:34
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 8:13
4. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 13:56
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 16:37
6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa Samsic at 17:24
7. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM at 19:02
8. Louis Meintjes (SA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 19:12
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 23:47
10. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 25:43.
Tour’22 stage 20:
Jasper Philipsen outclassed former Champs-Élysées winners Dylan Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff at the end of Stage 21, to emulate his childhood hero Tom Boonen who also won his second Tour de France stage in Paris at the age of 24 in 2004. Wout van Aert didn’t contest the last sprint to celebrate Jonas Vingegaard’s first overall victory.
Three non-starters: Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), Michael Woods and Guillaume Boivin (Israel-Premier Tech). Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), the super combative of the 109th Tour de France, attacked from the gun one last time but it was for a laugh along with Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar. As per tradition, the peloton rode slowly for the first 50 kilometres or so. Polka dot jersey wearer Simon Geschke was allowed by the rest of the riders to take the last KOM point up for grab on the côte du Pavé des Gardes. Also as per tradition, Jumbo-Visma, the team of the Maillot Jaune, entered Paris in the lead of the peloton.
Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost) and Stan De Wulf (AG2R-Citroën) attacked with 45km to go. They were joined in several waves by Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Dani Martinez (INEOS Grenadier), Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar), Max Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe) and Mikkel Honoré (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl). It was all together again with 33km to go. The next leading group involved Schachmann again. The German was joined by Jonas Rutsch and Owain Doull (EF Education-EasyPost), Antoine Duchesne and Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ). The five riders managed a 25 second maximum lead with 25km to go. It went down to 15 seconds with 15 kilometres remaining. Schachmann and Rutsch were the last to be caught and it was all together again with 6.8km left.
White jersey holder Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked, but Filippo Ganna reacted for INEOS Grenadier and the peloton was strung out in the run-in to the last 3km. Alpecin-Deceuninck seized control of the peloton. BikeExchange-Jayco took over at the 1K to go banner. Dylan Groenewegen launched from far out and Jasper Philipsen was on his wheel. He jumped on the right hand side to take his second Tour stage win at the age of 24, eighteen years after Tom Boonen did so on the Champs-Elysées, the last Belgian green jersey winner before Wout van Aert. Both hail from Mol and Philipsen has often been touted as the next Boonen. Last year’s Champs-Elysées winner Wout van Aert remained quietly at the back of the pack, along with Jonas Vingegaard who took home his first Tour de France trophy.
# You can see more photos in the full PEZ ‘Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “This is a childhood dream come true. And the icing on the cake of our Tour. Fantastic. The last kilometre was perfect for me. Dylan Groenewegen was forced to start early. I could perfectly stay on the wheel of the Dutchman and start my sprint how and when I wanted. Great that I could finish it. I am proud of my teammates for the work they have done. A childhood dream come true and the icing on the cake of our Tour de France. Earlier this tour I had a few disappointments but ended with two stage wins including this one on the Champs Elysées, yet the stage that is on every sprinter’s wish list is absolutely amazing.”
Final overall winner and KOM, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): “Nothing can go wrong anymore. It’s unbelievable. Now I’ve finally won the Tour. I’m with my daughter and that’s great. The Tour is the biggest race in the world and the biggest race you can win. And I did it. No one can take this away from me now. I always felt I could fight for the overall victory, but I think I started to believe in it after Hautacam. After that, something would really have to go wrong if I didn’t win the Tour. It’s great there are so many Danes here to see me in yellow. I really appreciate that and have to thank everyone who cheered for me over the past few weeks. That means a lot to me. Tuesday I have to go to the Netherlands for the celebration there. Wednesday I will be in Copenhagen and Thursday I will be in my hometown. From Friday I will be on the couch for a week. I am very happy with this victory. I want to celebrate this first and then rest, but after that I definitely want more.”
2nd overall, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “It has been an exciting Tour de France for me. To be here is still incredible, even if I am not standing on the top of the podium. If I hadn’t won the Tour before, this would be the happiest day of my life. Not winning doesn’t make much difference for me. Of course it means I have even more motivation for next year, but I just enjoy the spirit of this sport as much as I have always done. We have a really good couple of years of TV ahead of us with the duels between Jonas and myself. The attack on the Champs Elysées? That was funny! At some point we were sprinting against each other, the INEOS Grenadiers on the right side of the road and me on the left. Actually I had been talking to people a couple of kilometres before that to find out if somebody wanted to attack along with me. It was a funny coincidence that we ended up attacking at the same time from different sides of the road. Jasper Philipsen is a very good friend of mine. I wish we still were on the same team. I’m very happy to see him win here in Paris. My plans for the days ahead? I’m just so caught up in the moment. I guess I’ll celebrate a bit with my teammates, but it won’t be a long night since I’m already down to go the second stage of Le Tour Femmes and see my partner Urska [Zigart] race. She is a very good rider, even if she stills feels the pressure of racing a bit too much. I hope she will have a nice week of racing in France.”
3rd overall, Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers): “It has been an incredibly hard Tour de France. We had very tough moments within the team, with many guys in bad shape because of sicknesses, yet we were able to turn the race around for me to step on the podium. It’s special, kind of a relief, to stand up there, to experience all this, to be a part of it. The atmosphere in the team has been great, and that’s key because we can’t forget this is a team sport even if it’s only me standing on the podium. We believe that we can concur against these two riders in the future. We have bright talents in our team, and we can be competitive in the coming editions of the Tour. We came here with numbers and tried all we could. Wout van Aert is such an incredible rider. The whole Jumbo-Visma team has been amazing throughout the Tour de France, yet him in particular was spectacular on each and every stage. It’s a shame he races for a rival team!”
Points winner, Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): “Goal achieved. Today was a great day. It was special to experience that we took both the yellow and the green with the team. Whether that goal (the green) caused extra stress? Ugh, not really. You have to deal with those points. But I always race with the mentality to colour the race, so it didn’t really make much difference. In addition, I had a nice bonus pretty quickly. Which by the way was also our tactic beforehand: to score as much as possible in that first week. That worked out well. I like to race offensively and that was part of the team’s plan. It contributed to our ambitions. That’s how we turned it into a successful Tour de France. What will be the target for 2023? We’ll take a look at that later… I have to admit that I ended up in decompression today. That’s why I didn’t do the sprint anymore. Hopefully I can make the switch again by Saturday (Clásica San Sebastián).”
2nd on the stage, Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange-Jayco): “The team today was really brilliant, I went a bit too early [in the sprint] but there was no other option I think. Sometimes you are lucky, today we are second, it’s good, but it’s not good enough, but the team was really strong.I think that the team was really impressive today, if you see, I signed seven months ago with the team and now we did one of the best lead outs. I’m really, really thankful for that, for this big chance. We have two stage victories for the team, and we are really proud, and now we’re going to celebrate. Today was second, not enough, but we are happy with this Tour.”
3rd on the stage, Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux): “My teammates protected me well until the final lap, to enable me to sprint for the stage win. We came out of the last corner a little bit too far, but Andrea Pasqualon did a fantastic lead out. With around 350 meter to go, we had to stop pedalling for an instance because of a big movement in front of us. We lost our momentum, but from then on I could do a straight sprint. I’m happy with this third place, this is a nice end to our Tour de France. Even though we were dreaming of a stage win, we can be proud about our performance.”
5th overall, Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe): “The Tour is different to all the other races. Everyone tells you that before their first Tour, but it’s hard to grasp this until you experience it yourself. This was my first Tour and it’s really true: the Tour has its own way of racing. The level is extremely hard every day, there are no easy stages and every day in the peloton is quite stressful. I started the race in good shape and was confident, even though I had Covid after the Tour de Suisse, which was certainly not optimal. My preparation was otherwise very good, so we did everything right. Unfortunately, then I had the crash and from then on, this Tour was a real struggle for me. I really suffered a lot. But I think my fighting spirit and my teammates, who were always there for me, kept us in the race. After my crash, I never really had the feeling that I was able to deliver a performance that was at the level of my true form. I had good days and bad days, but I was never really at the place where I was beforehand in this season. You can’t change that now. In the end, fifth place is still a good result and I’m almost a little surprised that it was possible under these circumstances to be so high in the overall standings. I am pleased with the result and I think we can be proud of it as a team, and particularly of the way we fought for this result. Should I return back here next year, I know what to expect and that will certainly make a difference.”
8th overall, Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux): “As a team we can be proud of our Tour de France. Everyone was really fighting, we had a good team spirit. I think we got the best out of everyone. For me personally, a better time trial could have led to a better result. But his is part of the Tour. I arrived here on the Champs-Elysées as a happy man. I’m looking forward to celebrate this.”
9th overall, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan): “Well, I came here at the Tour de France with a goal to try again to do a good result in the General Classification. The preparation to the Tour was not a perfect one as well as all first part of the year with the crashes, sickness and bad luck. But, together with the team we were able to do our best, to fight in the mountains, especially in the third week, and to get a nice ninth place. There is no doubt, that I’d like to get more from this Tour both in some stages and the overall standings, but that’s how it is. However, I did my best in these three weeks and now I am satisfied with the result. So, we are here at the finish in Paris, but the season is still going on and I am looking forward to some new goals in the second half.”
12th overall, Bob Jungels (AG2R Citroën): “I am happy to have finished this Tour de France, without illness and without problems, and to be 12th in the general classification with a stage victory as well. It was a relentless Tour de France, without a moment of respite. You couldn’t crack and had to fight. I will especially remember the Châtel stage, which was an important success for me after everything I had been through. It was not easy to take on the role of leader after the abandonment of Ben O’Connor, but I fought to take up the challenge. I then tried to test my luck, to get into another breakaway, as was the case on the stage to Mende, but I did not succeed. That’s life. A year ago, I was a commentator for the last time trial on Radio Télé Luxembourg, a few days after having been operated on. Being here is fun. It’s a relief and it’s a sign that you always have to believe in yourself. It is the most important thing in life.”
Tour de France Stage 21 Result:
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2:58:32
2. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
4. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
5. Peter Sagan (Slov) TotalEnergies
6. Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) B&B Hotels-KTM
7. Danny van Poppel (Ned) BORA-hansgrohe
8. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal
9. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
10. Fred Wright (GB) Bahrain-Victorious.
Tour de France Final Overall Result:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma in 79:32:29
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 3:34
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 8:13
4. David Gaudu Groupama-FDJ at 13:56
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe at 16:37
6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa Samsic at 17:24
7. Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM at 19:02
8. Louis Meintjes (SA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 19:12
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 23:47
10. Adam Yates (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 25:43.
Tour’22 stage 21:
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2022
Lorena Wiebes won the first yellow jersey on Stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes 2022. After around 82 kilometres, the top favourite of the DSM team was the fastest in the bunch sprint on the opening stage over the cobbles of Champs-Élysées in Paris. She finished ahead of Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) in a long sprint.
Race director Marion Rousse officially flagged the first stage off on the Champs-Élysées for twelve laps of the Paris circuit. Krista Doebel-Hickok made the first attack, but her attempt failed. Her EF Education-TIBCO-SVB was very active in the opening phase, but it was the Dutch Nina Buysman of Human Powered Health who managed to get away.
She had seven riders with her, but the co-operation was not good and so they were quickly caught. The next attack came from Mischa Bredewold (Parkhotel Valkenburg) and Emily Newsom (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB). They took a lead of 40 seconds and did not let the French rider Morgane Coston (Arkéa) join them, but 49 kilometres from the finish the peloton came back to them for the first intermediate sprint of the day, where Marianne Vos crossed the line first, ahead of Lorena Wiebes and Alexandra Manly. Another attack by Pauline Allin (Arkéa) and Henrietta Christie (Human Powered Health) was also defused for the second intermediate sprint, where Lotte Kopecky was just a bit faster than Manly. Immediately after it was Femke Markus (Parkhotel Valkenburg), Anne Dorthe Ysland (Uno-X) and Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) who rode away. They just stayed away from the peloton at the first mountain sprint, which was at the ‘top’ of the Champs-Élysées at the Arc de Triomphe. Markus was first and the first polka dot jersey of this Tour Femmes.
Gladys Verhulst (Le Col-Wahoo) then made a frantic attempt to avoid a bunch sprint. She took a maximum lead of 45 seconds. In the peloton it was a bit nervous behind her, which caused a crash for SD Worx rider Christine Majerus. Alana Castrique of Cofidis was also involved and she had to abandon. On the final lap over the Champs-Élysées, Amanda Spratt and Laura Süßemilch also crashed, but they were able to continue. The peloton had some trouble getting back to Verhulst in the last 10 kilometres, but they managed to catch the Frenchwoman after more than 2 kilometres. Various sprinter’s teams came to the front for the final, including the Jumbo-Visma train. Ellen van Dijk led the way into the last kilometre, but her teammate Elisa Balsamo was not involved. Marianne Vos had an excellent lead-out and was the first to start the sprint, but was beaten in the last hundred metres by a lightning fast Lorena Wiebes, who was the pre-race favourite. Wiebes received the first yellow jersey of this Tour Femmes. Lotte Kopecky was third.
Stage winner and overall leader, Lorena Wiebes (DSM): “It’s amazing, the team did an amazing job,” smiled Wiebes after the finish. “As a whole team we worked towards this moment, also all of the people working hard at headquarters, so I’m really happy with the win. It was a really chaotic and long sprint. We expected Marianne would do a long sprint but I was able to kick once more, so it’s nice to win. I was quite relaxed before the start, we did everything as normal, we saw it as a normal race. Of course I was a bit nervous towards the final but I’m really happy to finish it off. It’s special to wear the yellow jersey. I think the whole team deserved this after the amazing season we have already had. We’re ready for the next days now.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma): “I was in the right place and came into the last corner next to Wiebes. Then you know it’s going to be a great match. The team did a fantastic job keeping me up front and out of trouble, then you’re happy to be in that position. I tried, out of Lorena’s wake, to punch a gap on the other side of the road, but couldn’t catch her. It’s the whole race. It’s about your position, because everyone wants to be at the front. It’s much more about the fight for it. There was some nervousness. It’s not an easy circuit either, you have to be careful with the cobbles. With all the fans here, that’s wonderful. It is a very beautiful day.”
3rd on the stage and overall, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx): “I didn’t win, but I’m pretty happy with it. I thought I couldn’t make it through. This gives me confidence for what’s to come. In the final I was alone, because I didn’t see anyone from the team. That’s why I had to focus on a wheel and find my way, which I managed to do well. It was nervous, but in itself it wasn’t too bad. It’s not that there were a lot of corners, that makes it a little easier. And it was a lot of fun with all those people on the side of the road.”
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Stage 1 Result:
1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) DSM in 1:54:00
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
3. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx
4. Rachele Barbieri (Ita) Liv Racing Xstra
5. Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar
6. Maike van der Duin (Ned) Le Col-Wahoo
7. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
8. Simone Boilard (Can) St Michel-Auber93 WE
9. Tamara Dronova-Balabolina (-) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss
10. Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope.
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Overall after Stage 1.
1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) DSM in 1:53:50
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma at 0:04
3. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx at 0:06
4. Rachele Barbieri (Ita) Liv Racing Xstra at 0:10
5. Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar
6. Maike van der Duin (Ned) Le Col-Wahoo
7. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
8. Simone Boilard (Can) St Michel-Auber93 WE
9. Tamara Dronova-Balabolina (-) Roland Cogeas Edelweiss
10. Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope.
Tour de France Femmes’22 stage 1:
Ethias Tour de Wallonie 2022
Julian Alaphilippe won the opening Stage 1 of the Tour de Wallonie. The French World champion was the best puncheur on ‘his’ Mur van Huy. Alaphilippe defeated Alex Aranburu (Movistar) and Robert Stannard (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and is also the first overall leader.
The Belgium a multi-day race, the Tour de Wallonie (2.Pro), started on Saturday. The first stage finish was on the well-known climb from the spring classic Flèche Wallonne: the Mur van Huy, twice: at 34 kilometres from the finish and the finish. The famous climb is 1.7 kilometres at 8%, but the final kilometre is at 19%.
Three-time winner of Flèche Wallonne and reigning World champion Julian Alaphilippe, started his second part of the season in the Tour de Wallonie. With the Frenchman as a major crowd puller, the peloton started the opening stage of 174.4 kilometres. The break of the day formed early. Fabian Lienhard (Groupama-FDJ), Johan Jacobs (Movistar), Casper Pedersen (DSM), Maxime Chevalier (B&B Hotels-KTM) and Lennert Teugels (Tarteletto-Isorex) joined forces and was not chased by the peloton. The lead of the five at one point increased to more than 3 minutes, but in the peloton there was control by Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, the team of Alaphilippe, and UAE Team Emirates who set the pace to hold the escape. After some time, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert and Cofidis also decided to lend a hand in the pursuit, making the break’s advantage smaller and smaller. At the foot of the first climb of the Mur of Huy, the lead was down to 2 minutes and the race was on.
On the steep slopes of the iconic slope, the peloton thinned out to about 40 riders, for sprinters such as Fernando Gaviria and Tim Merlier, it was too fast. The pace disastrous for the five escapees and with 12 kilometres to go, Jacobs and Pedersen were caught as the last survivors of the break. All eyes were on Alaphilippe and the French puncheur managed to live up to his status as a top favourite. Alaphilippe was ahead of Alex Aranburu and Robert Stannard by a wide margin to record his second win of the season, having won a stage in the Tour of the Basque Country in April, but more important for the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider is that he is back with a win after his injury. Alaphilippe is also the first overall leader.
Stage winner and overall leader, Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl): “I’m really happy. I was very excited this morning at the thought of being back with the guys in a competition again after our training camp in Livigno, I had a lot of motivation knowing I would finally resume racing and was very confident, because I had a strong team around me, and together we prepared a solid plan for today. We controlled the race from the beginning with Iljo, then the others stepped in, in the final part of the stage and they too did a great job, and that’s why I want to thank them all. I’m delighted that I had the legs to finish the day in the most beautiful way possible. The Mur de Huy is always a difficult finish and it’s never easy to win here, you feel the pain with every meter. The fact that I lead the general classification is a bonus, but I just want to take it day by day and focus on every stage before thinking of the overall. I am just happy to have tasted victory again after a long time.”
Ethias Tour de Wallonie Stage 1 Result:
1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl in 4:06:11
2. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar at 0:01
3. Robert Stannard (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Trek-Segafredo at 0:05
5. Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) EF Education-EasyPost
6. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
7. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis at 0:09
8. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) AG2R Citroën at 0:15
9. Clément Champoussin (Fra) AG2R Citroën
10. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:17.
Ethias Tour de Wallonie Overall After Stage 1:
1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl in 4:06:01
2. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar at 0:05
3. Robert Stannard (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:07
4. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Trek-Segafredo at 0:15
5. Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) EF Education-EasyPost
6. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
7. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis at 0:19
8. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) AG2R Citroën at 0:25
9. Clément Champoussin (Fra) AG2R Citroën
10. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:27.
Wallonie’22 stage 1:
Oier Lazkano won the Second Stage of the Tour de Wallonie in Hervé on Sunday. The Movistar rider raced all day in the breakaway, was swallowed by a favourite’s group in the final and attacked just before the finish. After a hilly race of 176.8 kilometres, Lazkano crossed the line solo, ahead of Loic Vliegen and Jesús Herrada.
This stage should have already taken place in the Tour de Wallonie last year, but due to flooding, this passage had to be postponed. It promised to be a very tough stage, including La Rédoute (1.5kilometers at 10.5%) the Côte de Cornesse (1.1km at 12%) in the last 60 kilometers. The final around Hervé was a little less difficult, but certainly not flat.
Early on in the stage, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Soudal), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), Ivo Oliveira (UAE team Emirates) and Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers) pulled away. They had a lead on the peloton of more than 4 minutes, where GC leader Julian Alaphilippe had won the first intermediate sprint early in the stage. The World champion took 3 important bonus seconds. In the peloton it was Cofidis who led the chase. That was where the final opened. Campenaerts and Lazkano survived the race the longest, while a large group of favourites combined behind them. This included Greg Van Avermaet, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Ben Turner, Lorenzo Rota, Harm Vanhoucke and Xandro Meurisse. That group was recaptured.
A subsequent escape of 14 riders was more successful. Again Van Avermaet, Uijtdebroeks and Vanhoucke were there, as were Guillaume Martin, Maxim Van Gils, Jesús Herrada, Robert Stannard and Mattias Skjelmose, and others. They joined Campenaerts and Lazkano 20 kilometres from the finish. In the difficult final around Hervé, the leading group split. Lazkano tried again in the last 5 kilometres and he had Loic Vliegen and Jesús Herrada behind him in the final kilometres. However, the Movistar rider held his ground and crossed the line solo, just ahead of a tired Vliegen. Herrada was third.
Stage winner, Oier Lazkano (Movistar): “I am very happy, for me and for the team, to have won. At the start of the race, I saw riders from Alpecin-Deceuninck and Victor Campenaerts come out. We knew that they are strong riders and that we had to support them. In the end, I tried once again to go alone until the line and it succeeded. It was very hot. This is my 2nd major victory (stage in the Tour of Portugal 2020). The first is always special but this second bouquet is very beautiful too.”
Overall leader, Robert Stannard (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “We are very happy to have won this leader’s jersey. This type of course corresponds well to my physical characteristics. I also like the heat. So everything went well. My objective now is to go for a stage victory. Keeping the jersey would also be a good thing: we have a very strong team and we can drive all day up front to control.”
Ethias Tour de Wallonie Stage 2 Result:
1. Oier Lazkano (Spa) Movistar in 4:12:40
2. Loïc Vliegen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 0:02
3. Jesús Herrada (Spa) Cofidis at 0:07
4. Robert Stannard (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:11
5. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
6. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
7. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) AG2R Citroën
8. James Shaw (GB) EF Education-EasyPost
9. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Soudal
10. Frederik Wandahl (Den) BORA-hansgrohe.
Ethias Tour de Wallonie Overall After Stage 2:
1. Robert Stannard (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 8:18:57
2. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Trek-Segafredo at 0:07
3. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 0:10
4. Loïc Vliegen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux at 0:11
5. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis
6. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) AG2R Citroën at 0:20
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:22
8. James Shaw (GB) EF Education-EasyPost at 0:28
9. Jesús Herrada (Spa) Cofidis at 0:29
10. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Soudal at 0:32.
Wallonie’22 stage 2:
Primoz Roglič Broke Two Vertebrae in his Tour Crash
It is unclear at the moment whether Primoz Roglič can defend his Vuelta a España title this year. ESPN reports that the three-time winner of the Spanish tour has broken two vertebrae in his crash in the Tour de France. Jumbo-Visma has not yet confirmed the news.
Roglič crashed in the fifth stage of the Tour de France, the cobbles stage from Lille to Wallers-Arenberg. He continued for another week and a half, but did not start on the fifteenth stage to Carcassonne. During the first major Alpine stage, where Jonas Vingegaard took the yellow jersey, the Slovenian had played an important role in Jumbo-Visma’s team game.
The Vuelta a España starts on August 19, in Utrecht. Roglič won the 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions. In 2021 he had also crashed out of the Tour de France.
Primoz Roglič getting back into the Tour:
Miguel Ángel López Investigated for Drug Trafficking
The Colombian must appear before the authorities.
Miguel Ángel López is in trouble. The Colombian rider is being investigated for alleged drug trafficking together with the controversial doctor Marcos Maynar and this Thursday he was intercepted by authorities in Spain when he arrived at the Madrid airport from Colombia to resume his team duties. The news was revealed by the Spanish website Ciclo 21 and they obtained some photographs of López at the Madrid airport and explains that “the Colombian is already formally investigated (previously charged) within the case opened by the investigating court number 4 of Cáceres and the operation baptised as Ilex against the Extremaduran doctor and physiologist Marcos Maynar.”
Miguel Ángel López collaborated in all the questions and negotiations of the authorities, who later let him go. On Monday, July 25, he will be in the Villafranca-Clásica de Ordizia race; part of his preparation for the Vuelta a España that begins on August 19 and where he will be the leader of the Astana Team. The South American of the Kazakh Astana team was initially summoned as a witness for an alleged crime of distribution of medicines that do not have authorisation in Spain. By changing his figure from witness to investigated, he could have criminal responsibility in the investigated facts, added Ciclo 21.
Miguel Ángel López will testify before the authorities after his participation in the Vuelta a España for his possible relationship with the controversial doctor and the “Maynar” case in which he was already arrested and later released with charges in May. Who is Dr. Marcos Maynar? As MARCA explained on May 11 when he was arrested, “Marcos Maynar He has been involved, either as an expert or as an alleged implicated, in several cases of doping in sports. He was the author of the report that tried to exculpate his colleague Sabino Padilla in the positive with nandrolone of the Athletic Club player Carlos Gurpegui. Maynar was arrested in 2004 by the National Police in an investigation against the trafficking of doping substances in gyms. In the end, he was not charged.” Maynar has been linked and accused in several doping cases and in various sports for substances such as EPO and anabolics in cycling, basketball, volleyball and soccer. At the time of his arrest he was charged with crimes against public health, money laundering and illegal trafficking of drugs prohibited on Spanish soil.
The news that was spread in the media caught the team by surprise, and at the moment they do not have any details. In this regard, the team decided to suspend Miguel Angel Lopez from any activity within the team until all the circumstances of the case are clarified.
Has López been a bad boy?
Jumbo-Visma Strengthens with Attila Valter
Jumbo-Visma continues to play on the transfer market. After Dylan van Baarle, Jan Tratnik and Wilco Kelderman were signed earlier, several sources say that Attila Valter will also be in the Dutch team next year. The Hungarian climber comes from Groupama-FDJ. It is not known for how long he will be signing.
Valter impressed on the Eastern European circuit in 2018 for the continental team Pannon. With that, the Hungarian earned a transfer to the CCC training team. He then continued strongly, including a national time trial title with the pros, a stage victory over Tignes in the Tour de l’Avenir and a 4th place in the Tour of Lombardy U23. That year he also came high on the scouting list at Jumbo-Visma. Finally, after that year, Valter turned pro with the CCC WorldTour team.
There he rode a strong debut year, including the overall victory in the Tour of Hungary. After that season, CCC ceased to exist. The Dutch team was already interested in taking him at the time, but at that time they only had room for one rider. That was Nathan Van Hooydonck, who was in the same situation. Valter then signed with Groupama-FDJ, for whom he wore the pink jersey in the Giro d’Italia last year. He eventually finished thirteenth in the final standings, once again underlining his talent for stage race work.
This season, the Hungarian has been a bit erratic in his performance. He finished fourth in the tough Strade Bianche at the beginning of March and at the end of April he rode a fantastic Tour of the Alps in the run-up to the Giro, Valter finished fifth. During the Giro he had a hard time, for inexplicable reasons. He was not involved, although he did finish fourth in the nineteenth stage won by Koen Bouwman. In June he finished tenth in the Mont Ventoux Dénivéle Challenge and became Hungarian champion on the road for the first time. Last week Valter was hit by a motorcycle during one of his training rides. He escaped with a number of broken teeth, although there was nothing left of his bicycle. He has now resumed training at home.
Earlier this year it appeared in Belgian media that Edward Dunbar would also go to Jumbo-Visma. Although talks have been held with the Irish INEOS Grenadiers climber, those negotiations have come to nothing. Dunbar will, however, leave the British team. Rumours now are that he is on his way to BikeExchange-Jayco.
Attila Valter to Jumbo-Visma:
Simon Yates Extends with Team BikeExchange-Jayco through to 2024
GreenEDGE Cycling is pleased to announce the contract renewal of Vuelta a España champion Simon Yates, through to 2024. The two-year contract extension will see the 10-time Grand Tour stage winner continue his career with the Australian outfit, after turning professional with the squad nine years ago, back in 2014.
Fresh from two stage victories at this year’s Giro d’Italia, Yates, the team’s most successful general classification rider was a high priority re-signing. The 29-year-old feels it is important to continue with the squad that assisted with his development from a young and talented 21-year-old neo-pro, into a Grand Tour winner, describing GreenEDGE Cycling as ‘home.’
With big ambitions for the remainder of the 2022 season and looking ahead to 2023, Yates will continue to be one of the valued leaders at GreenEDGE Cycling and a rider that the up and coming talent can look up-to and learn from.
Gerry Ryan – Team Owner: “We are very proud to have Simon continue his journey with us; he has been a key member of the team for nine years now and has provided our organisation with some of the most incredible moments, including our first Grand Tour victory. Simon will be an important part of the team’s future; we have big ambitions and we are confident that together, we can achieve many more great things. We’ve had a turning point after this first decade, but the direction remains the same; we will continue to look for young new talent and work to try to turn them into champions, like we have done with Simon. We believe he will continue to be a great leader and be a great example to the new generation of GreenEDGE cycling riders.”
Brent Copeland – General Manager: “It is so important for us to confirm the re-signing of team leader Simon Yates. He has achieved a lot for our team, and we believe he still has a lot to give us and to our loved sport. Simon is like a member of the family and being able to continue to work together for the next two years, will not only help the team in terms of results, but also to carry on what Gerry Ryan has built over the last decade with GreenEDGE Cycling.”
Simon Yates – 2023 & 2024 Contract Renewal: “To continue with this team is very important for me. The journey so far from being a young neo-pro through to 2022 has been great, I’ve had a lot of success and many failures, and the team has always kept believing in me, given me the chance, and given me the support and space to develop. Everybody in the organisation knows me very well as a rider, how I work best, and the environment of the team has been important for me to feel comfortable and grow. I believe there is still a lot to come and now that we have a great partner like Giant, I have been able to step up a level in the time trial event, winning my first Grand Tour time trial stage this year at the Giro and this excites me a lot for the future seasons. I’m confident that we will achieve a lot more and I am pleased to be able to continue with this team that feels like home, into what will be my 10th and 11th seasons as a professional rider.”
Simon Yates:
Date of birth: 7th August 1992
Nationality: British
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2014
New Contract: 2023 & 2024
Top Results:
1st Vuelta a España Overall General Classification (2018)
3rd Giro d’Italia Overall General Classification (2021)
1st Tour de France Young Rider’s Jersey (2017)
13x days in the Maglia Rosa at the Giro d’Italia (2018)
6x 1st Giro d’Italia stage victories (2022, 2021, 2018)
2x 1st Tour de France stage victories (2019)
2x 1st Vuelta a España stage victories (2018, 2016)
4x Paris-Nice stage victories (2022, 2019, 2018, 2017)
Michael Matthews continues through to 2025 with Team BikeExchange-Jayco
Recent Tour de France stage 14 winner Michael Matthews will remain at Team BikeExchange-Jayco, having agreed to a three-year contract extension that will see him race with the team until the end of 2025.
The news comes as Team Owner Gerry Ryan confirms his commitment to both the men’s and women’s WorldTour teams for a further three seasons, having supported the organisation since its inception in 2012, creating Australia’s first ever team competing at the highest level in the UCI WorldTour.
Matthews, a former Tour de France Green Jersey Winner, spent four years with the Australian outfit from 2013 to 2017, where he won stages in all three Grand Tours, before returning to the team in 2021 with more experience and motivation than ever, as displayed in his gutsy TDF stage win last week.
The 31-year-old Australian has transformed as a rider over the years and with this versatile skillset, GreenEDGE Cycling is thrilled to have him on-board as one of the team leaders, as it looks to build into its second decade.
Gerry Ryan – Team Owner: “Michael is a key part of GreenEDGE Cycling and he has shown this year at the Tour de France how he has grown as a rider and can fight for victories in many different types of races, while also committing to his teammates when needed. The victory just a few days ago, with that type of performance, he displayed to us once again that he is one of the best riders in the peloton and we are extremely pleased to see him continue. He will of course be one of the leaders of our team, which I am happy to announce that we will support for the coming three years. It is special for us to have Michael Matthews along with Simon Yates and Dylan Groenewegen as our team leaders, but of course our goal is also to continue to bring in young talent and help them grow into champions. I am sure many young riders would love to work together with these riders and learn from their experience. Of course, the same goes for our women’s team. The Giro Donne and the season so far has been quite special after a period of adjustments which was needed after so many years. We also have big plans in mind for our women’s squad and we are excited to follow the first ever Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift starting today. Women’s cycling has reached an extremely high level and we have been proud to support our women’s team since day one. As we are in our second decade, we all work with more experience, but our energy and enthusiasm is as it was on day one. We are determined to keep growing as an organisation and thanks to the partners we have, we believe more great things will come for GreenEDGE Cycling in the next three years.”
Brent Copeland – General Manager: “We are very happy to be able to set up a strong base for the coming three years with such a strong riders list, led by Simon Yates and Michael Matthews with their renewals. It was important for us to keep Matthews in the team, he is a great example for all team members, and we are confident he will deliver more great results but also inspire our younger riders; he is a great role model. Being able to look ahead and plan the next three years is fantastic for our organisation and we have to thank Team Owner Gerry Ryan, who has committed to giving us all this opportunity. We are building the future for GreenEDGE Cycling and this is of course for both our men’s and women’s teams. We see a very bright future and we are excited to see what we can continue to achieve together.”
Michael Matthews – 2023 to 2025 Contract Renewal: “First of all, I want to say thanks to Gerry Ryan, it has been amazing to be able to come back to this team and the support I have been given these past two years has been great. Team BikeExchange-Jayco is evolving, getting stronger and stronger every year, and I can’t wait to carry on the success we are having at the moment. This team for me is really a family, I am now 31 and obviously in the prime of my career with the best legs I have ever had since I started racing and I want to show the world, the team and Gerry what I am made of. I can’t wait to continue this journey for the next three years. I have known Gerry since I was 17 years old and he always backed me 110% during my career, and I am of course always ready to give my best to repay his and the team’s trust in me. We always want to achieve new goals, make sure we build a better team year after year, and I can’t wait to achieve more success that we deserve.”
Michael Matthews
Date of Birth: 26th September (31)
Nationality: Australian
New Contract: 2023, 2024, 2025
Top Results:
4x 1st Tour de France stage victories (2016, 2017, 2022)
3x 1st Vuelta a España stage victories (2013, 2014)
2x 1st Giro d’Italia stage victories (2015, 2014)
1st Tour de France Point Jersey Classification (2017)
1st Bretagne Ouest Classic
1st GP Montreal
3x Paris-Nice stage victories (2015, 2016)
2nd World Championship Road Race (2015).
Three more years for Michael Matthews:
DSM In Pole Position for Stefan Küng
Team DSM is on its way to making a big scoop in the transfer market. Stefan Küng has expressed his wish to leave Groupama-FDJ at the end of the season. Several sources suggest that Küng will transfer to the Dutch DSM team next season. The Swiss rider has a contract until the end of 2023.
Küng’s manager Olivier Senn was in Lausanne with Marc Madiot, according to the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung. “Other teams are interested, there are some very good offers,” the 28 year-old Küng said last week. “I hope Groupama-FDJ follows this, otherwise my path will continue elsewhere.”
Küng wanted his French team to give him a more important role. In addition to the leadership in the classics, he wants more freedom in the week long stage races. Now Madiot’s focus is on Thibaut Pinot, David Gaudu and Arnaud Démare. Küng would like to discover where his options lie after his fifth place in the Tour of Switzerland.
“It’s also about being one of the priorities in the team,” the Swiss rider told to the newspaper. He wants his team to value him – not only sportingly, but also financially – and he also demands a long-term project focused on the time trial with a view to the Olympic Games and the Swiss World championships in 2024.
Küng has been linked to UAE Team Emirates, BORA-hansgrohe and Trek-Segafredo in recent days. According to some sources, the Dutch WorldTeam of Iwan Spekenbrink is the main candidate for Küng. Both that team and Madiot (team manager Groupama-FDJ) do not want to confirm the switch, but a transfer seems in the making.
New team for Stefan Küng?
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