TOPS
Woods, a cannon climb. The Canadian erased 2 minutes in the climb of Puy-de-Dôme to come back on the American Matteo Jorgenson and win after a dream climb. After Simon Clarke in Arenberg and Hugo Houle in Foix, Michael Woods signs the 3rd victory in the Tour for the Israel-Premier Tech team. Woods, who is living his 3rd Tour, wore the polka dot jersey for one day in 2021. He won his 3rd victory on a grand tour (after 2 victories in the Vuelta in 2018 and 2020).
Jorgenson a sting and wings. The American (Movistar), stung by a wasp passed under his helmet 70 km from the finish, continued the stage belly to earth. After his misadventure, he tried his luck 40 km from the line. Straight bust, regular pedaling pace, with a grin that hesitated between grimace and smile, between pain and happiness, Matteo Jorgenson knew how to adapt to the particular conditions of Puy-de-Dôme (slope and absence of spectators in the last 4 kilometers ) to resist the Slovenian Matej Mohoric for a long time, before being swallowed by the Canadian Michael Woods. Awarded the Fighting Spirit Award.
Latour the magnificent finish. 14 riders broke company with the peloton from the 1st km: Powless (EF Education), Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Berthet (Ag2r-Citröen), Izagirre, Jorgenson (Movistar), Woods, Boivin (Israel-PremierTech), Campenaerts (Lotto -Dstny), De la Cruz, Lutsenko (Astana), Abrahamsen, Gregaard (Uno-X), Burgaudeau, Latour (TotalEnergies). 100 km from the finish, the fugitives have a 10′ lead. No element dangerous for the general classification appearing in the breakaway, the peloton let itself be put to sleep. Before that timidly, the Jumbo-Visma team grabs the reins of the pursuit. Pierre Latour, author of a breathtaking final climb, snatched 2nd place.
The 8 seconds of Pogacar. Tadej Pogacar, true to form, attacked. 1.4 km from the summit of Puy-de-Dôme. Jonas Vingegaard tried to keep in touch. He lost a few lengths but was able to preserve the essentials by giving up only 7 seconds. The Dane retains the yellow jersey but Pogacar trails at 17” in the general classification. He will let his threat hover.
FLOPS
The suffering of David Gaudu. The Breton climber had spotted the places. He knew the difficulty of the final ascent. He suffered. Escorted by Thibaut Pinot, he finished 25th in the stage (10’25 from Woods; 2’6” from Pogacar, the first in the group of favorites) but he especially lost time on his rivals for the third place on the podium. The leader of the Groupama-FDJ team is in 8th place in the general classification (6’1” from Vingegaard), 3’41” from Jay Hindley, 3rd in the general classification. Romain Bardet emerges in 10th place in the general classification.
Bernal’s Calvary. The Colombian sees the days pass and look alike. The winner of the 2019 Tour, miraculously off the road after a serious traffic accident, once again finished late (41st at 18’34” from Woods). He is in 34th place overall, 34’32” behind Vingegaard.
O’Connor exceeded. 11th in the general classification before the 9th stage, the Australian Ben O’Connor (Ag2r-Citroën) had a bad day. 39th at 16’21 from Woods, he slipped in the general classification. 18th at 14’04”. It is the Austrian Felix Gall (16th) who occupies the best place in the general classification for the Savoyard formation.
