"Pogacar? When I saw how things were shaping up ahead," smiles Cattaneo, ninth at the finish line, "I told myself to take a breather and try to follow him when he passed. I think I saw him and followed him for 5-600 meters and I honestly think he is absolutely unbeatable if he goes like this. Because it's really on another level."
The stage has just ended, with riders still arriving one by one. Demare will be the last at 35:34, with the time limit set at 37:33.
Van der Poel knew it would be impossible to defend the jersey Despite the defeat that was inevitable, VdP reacted with great dignity.
Van der Poel knew it would be impossible to defend the jersey Despite the defeat that was inevitable, VdP reacted with great dignity.
Sly indeed
It's bad to point out that it was said, but this time he was serious. More than anything it was seen. We wrote yesterday that Pogacar had appeared sly in his pursuit of the leaders. Why bother chasing a breakaway where at most there's Nibali? (who however aims at Tokyo and has not done a Tour level preparation) have thought in the flagship of the Uae Team Emirates, if Tomorrow is the first mountain stage and can we take back anything that might be left along the way?
For this Yesterday, upon arrival, the Slovenian didn't seem particularly disheartenedTired, of course, like you are after a 250-kilometer run in the cold and wet, but not too demoralized. Sly, indeed, this was the feeling he had conveyed.
All clear from the morning
So when he showed up this morning at the start of the stage from Oyonnax to Le Grand Bornand, Tadej looked at the sky and said to himself that with that bad weather there was perhaps a way to recover something.He zipped up his jacket, pulled on his gloves, and set off.
«We told ourselves to see how the stage would go – he says – and At the start we immediately saw that it would be a very bad day for everyoneI, on the other hand, felt good in that bad weather, so before the last three climbs I decided I would give it a try. I told my teammates and asked them to make a good pace».
Pogacar regains the yellow jersey: something he wanted with all his might It was a real feat for him, but what will he do now? Will he defend with determination or attack again?
Pogacar regains the yellow jersey: something he wanted with all his might It was a real feat for him, but what will he do now? Will he defend with determination or attack again?
The team is there
Remember what he told us about UAE Team Emirates Cattaneo a few days ago"They say they're not a strong team, but I don't know how many can say they have people like Majka, Formolo, and McNulty up the climbs." The Bergamo native's prophecy has come true.
«When I saw that everyone was suffering – says Pogacar – and saw that Formolo and Brandon (McNulty, ed.) were doing a really good job, I decided to leave. First I took a shot with Carapaz and then another one alone and at that point I kept my pace until the finish.They were all suffering, probably paying the price for yesterday's fatigue and cold. And so now the yellow jersey has arrived, and I'm so happy. Who is Tadej's main opponent? Perhaps Tadej himself., in the sense that it won't be easy to protect this shirt and keep everyone at bay."
Stage won by Dylan Teuns, the man from the Planche des Belles Filles His action was perfect in terms of timing, just like Mohoric's yesterday.
Stage won by Dylan Teuns, the man from the Planche des Belles Filles His action was perfect in terms of timing, just like Mohoric's yesterday.
Van der Poel, heroic surrender
On the front of the men in the standings, with the usual luck that helps the winners, To find a dangerous opponent behind him, Pogacar must go down to Rigoberto Uran, the closest, well over the four-minute mark. Van Aert holds on to second place, but has also lost 5'45”, while Van der Poel's yellow fairytale shattered against gravity and the bill of a first week of the Tour raced without regard to expenseThe (no longer) Flying Dutchman arrived at 21'47” together with general classification men like Miguel Angel Lopez and Vincenzo Nibali.
I saw early on, on the signing stage, that I wouldn't be keeping the jersey. But I'm happy with how I felt today, even on the climbs. My Tour de France has already been a successI'd prefer to get to Paris, I like it here. But we have to consider my other goals too. We will decide on the day of rest».
Cattaneo saves us
Ninth at the finish, at 4'07”, just two seconds before the group of strongest pursuers arrived, Mattia Cattaneo continues his journey through the Tour and within himselfBest Italian of the day this time too and this time also better than his team.
«After Pogacar, Carapaz also passed – Cattaneo smiles again – and I couldn't stay with him either. So I know I'm not a champion, but anyway… this shows that Pogacar is from another planet.Now everyone will be against him and maybe he won't have a very strong team, but he's outclassed everyone. As strong as he is, the team can tolerate him very well. In short, maybe it's wrong to say he's unbeatable, because for God's sake the Tour ends in Paris and they will surely try to make it difficult for him, but with the current situation I think it's really difficult. How am I? I'm happy with my placing, it wasn't even easy to break away.».
Waiting for Bernal
That of the others was a slow sinking. Yet, following Pogacar's ride, who started with three kilometres to go before the top of the penultimate climb, It's hard to get a sense of heroic achievement. Not a grimace, but a sense of perfect control.It's true that grimaces and sore legs come out when fending off attacks from stronger opponents, but It is surprising how the plans of teams far more equipped, celebrated and powerful than the UAE Team Emirates have crumbled under the blows of a 22 year old boy that simply opens the throttle and takes flight. The pathos is missing, that's all. And perhaps only the best Bernal, with his back in order, could put him against the ropes or make his existence more difficult.Those who have tried so far, from what we've seen so far, haven't seemed very convincing.
P.S. The stage was won by Dylan Teuns, with whom we apologize for the lack of consideration. For the Belgian of the Team Bahrain Victorious Another Tour victory after the one in 2019, when he punished our Ciccone. After Mohoric's yesterday, Pellizotti's team And Volpi adds another one. And he left Padun at home, too.
