Days like this reconcile you with cycling, but it must be said that From the very beginning, this entire Tour has been a tribute to the beauty of sport. So when it became clear that the longer stage was turning into a big show, made up of smaller stories intertwined with each other, following it became surprisingly beautiful.
It's really hard to start. With Mohoric, perhaps, and his tears in the final few meters? Or from Nibali who woke up and did he take his Italian passion for a walk uphill? Or by Pogacar, cornered by bigger thugs and unable to react? Or perhaps by Van der Poel and Van Aert, who for a few minutes seemed to challenge each other in a Superprestige race? Or from Roglic, sunk in that annoyance that doesn't go away and prevented him from pushing? Or even from Carapaz who cut the umbilical cord and went to take the role of leader at Team Ineos?
It all happened on the same day, and the whole night really wouldn't be enough to tell you what a stage like this leaves behind.
Mohoric Festival
Mohoric won stages at the Giro and also at the VueltaAnd the load of emotions that gathered in his chest during those last few meters was stronger than him. He must have thought about the fear after the Giro crash. On the slow climb back up. And then he no longer understood anything, collapsing under the weight of an uncontrollable emotion.
«It's incredible – says Mohoric – In the last 20 kilometers, my legs were screaming, but I didn't listen to themThis was my greatest victory. First of all because we are at the Tour de France, the largest race in the world. Secondly, I got to the end of the breakaway and beat some of the strongest riders in the worldThe idea was to fight for the polka-dotted jersey, and in fact I took the five points. Then I hoped they would look at each other, allowing me to win the stage. And doing so while wearing my national champion's jersey is even more special."
Welcome back Shark
Nibali, holy Nibali, how long have we been waiting for you like this? And who knows how long you've been waiting to be able to play in the race. Like when the others were struggling and everything came easy to you. The last time you won here, they almost let you go, then you were good at holding off the group's comeback. Today, however, you started out as bad with the strong ones. Today was a real Shark action, welcome back!
«There were important men – he says – you couldn't look the other wayMy legs were good in the final stages. Van Aert and Van der Poel went ahead and I followed them. Tomorrow will be another tough day and I'm curious to see how it goes. Second place came for us. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we tried to win anyway.
The question remains as to why Skuijns did not stay with him to pull so that he could gain even more ground on Pogacar. Among those ahead, excluding the men from the classics, the leader of the standings is still Pogacar, with Nibali second, 29 seconds behind.
Vdp over the limit
Already, Van der Poel is one of those with his hours numberedHis father says he's accustomed us to surprises, and perhaps it's not even out of place to imagine he could surpass tomorrow's stage. Dreaming a lot, of course. But more than that would be too much even for the love of his father Adrie.
«I don't remember having lived through other days as hard as this. – he says – I went full throttle all day. It was clear this morning that many riders wanted to go on the attackWe were going strong and there were many of us starting. Today Van Aert was really strong, but I still managed to fight for the yellow jersey. I want to dedicate everything to this shirt because it is the most beautifulI pushed myself to the limit, let's see how the race goes tomorrow. I'll try to keep it up, I want to have fun."
Van Aert laughed
The tragedy occurred in Jumbo-Visma. With Roglic down and Van Aert second in the standings, it's hard to understand where the Dutch team wants to go. Suddenly it seemed that everyone was doing it for themselves and in front of everyone, Big and bulky as a bull, Van Aert seemed to be having a great time.
«If it hadn't been for that warm audience – he said – It really felt like being at the Superprestige in RuddervoordeMathieu and I have been long-time rivals and I think it will always be that way, but today we had a few laughs during the stageI enjoyed breaking away from the usual Tour routine and going on the breakaway. That was the plan: to aim for the stage and, possibly, the overall. I was sure that Mathieu would be ready too, it's beautiful to see him running like thisWe could have gone to war, but we said it would be better to work together. We hadn't counted on Mohoric, unfortunately.But now I'm holding on. I'm curious to see how I'll recover tomorrow after such a tough stage.But I'm sure of one thing. If Pogacar is strong and aggressive tomorrow, there's very little we can do."
Is Pogacar being clever?
Yes, but what does Pogačar do? How can the champion who thrashed everyone in the time trial suddenly lose interest in the chase and finish more than five minutes behind Mohoric? That on his flagship they might have really thought that the ones in front in perspective aren't that scary and will it be better to spend better and well in the first real Alpine stage?
«We tried to close it – he says – but maybe we made a mistake and had to work hardI know my team, I know they are strong and that after a good recovery they will be ready for tomorrow's stageWe're moving forward day by day, but we'll try to get through this moment. I'm very happy for Mohoric, I don't know what happened to Roglic. But if I look at the standings, I say that Nothing serious enough to cause any cause for concern has happened.».
The team doctors explained Primoz's condition in a note: After the fall, Roglic cannot sit properly on the saddle and consequently cannot pedal.It seems too early to consider quitting the race, but how sad it is when you've put everything you've got on a goal and then, due to a stupid racing accident, you see everything vanish into thin air.
