Is the Tour de France 2021 double locked? This is what seemed. Until, this Wednesday, July 7, the amazing Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) creates the sensation, escaping 1.5 km from the summit of Ventoux and unleashing Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates). Admittedly, the escape was cut short and the Dane will be caught before the finish.
But he had the merit of reviving the question of the invincibility of the yellow jersey. Overall, the Slovenian is still more than five minutes ahead of Colombian Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo), second, and Jonas Vingegaard, third.
The story of this 11e stage between Sorgues and Malaucène, in Vaucluse, is it so beautiful that it would be likely to relaunch the intrigue of the Grande Boucle? Especially after the solo victory of Belgian Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), a specialist in classics and cyclo-cross, acclaimed by an enthusiastic colony of his compatriots.
Or another hypothesis: the final symphony seemed too well polished by UAE Emirates. So much so that a verse had to be included, as in the realistic repertoires on the theme: “yes, I’m just a simple mortal”. A hypothesis not totally far-fetched knowing that the rusty hinges of doubt creak harder and harder, like a shadow following Pogacar.
“I didn’t panic”
The Slovenian, who had made up his delay in the descent to Malaucène on Wednesday, was indeed sprinting on the line. Failing and then sprinting is still quite unusual: “I cracked a bit, he confessed. But I was lucky to be with Richard Carapaz and we rode together on the descent. It was a very hot day and I thought that Ineos [l’équipe de Carapaz] was looking for something … “
Then to continue, ingenuously: “The pace was not so high (…) and I was able to recover after the Vingegaard attack. I stayed calm and it wasn’t very long until the summit. I didn’t panic and I didn’t lose much. I had the resources to step on the pedals… ”
As everything is possible and above all impossible to decipher, including the victory of a superb runner, Wout van Aert, who believes in his own worth with a faith that impresses. But, who on Wednesday had everything from the great Miguel Indurain. Wout van Aert took the best from the Spaniard: pedaling pace, position well in line, ass on the saddle: “I know I’m not the best climber, but when I choose my day I know I have a chance. Today I felt very good. “
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