Tour de France: Canadian Michael Woods wins at the top of the Puy de Dôme

Survivor of the morning breakaway, the Canadian Michael Woods (Israel PT) won the 9th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday at the top of the Puy de Dôme climbed for the first time in 35 years on the Grande Boucle. Escaped from the start with thirteen other runners, the Canadian veteran caught up in extremis with the American Matteo Jorgenson, who had started alone 46 km from the finish, to win on the terrifying slopes of the volcano at an altitude of 1,415 m. . Woods, 36, plugged a two-minute hole at the foot of Puy du Dôme to come back to Jorgenson 450 meters from the line and win ahead of Frenchman Pierre Latour and Slovenian Matej Mohoric.

The peloton, with all the main favourites, was more than sixteen minutes behind the American at the foot of the last spiral climb (13.3 km at 7.7% including the final four kilometers prohibited to the public at 12%) that the best climb in a good half hour. With this prestigious success, Woods is part of a royal line, alongside Fausto Coppi, first winner at the Puy du Dôme in 1952, Federico Bahamontes, who celebrated his 94th birthday this Sunday, Luis Ocaña or Lucien Van Impe, crowned in 1975, the year Eddy Merckx was boxed by a spectator in the stomach.

The Puy de Dôme (1,415 m) was also the scene of a legendary mano a mano between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor in 1964 when “Poupou” had taken 42 seconds, without being able to deprive his rival of a fifth final coronation. Dane Johnny Weltz was the last winner at the top in 1988, after a long breakaway already. The curtain then fell on the Puy de Dôme for a question of preservation of this exceptional natural site, labeled Grand site de France since 2008 and UNESCO World Heritage since 2018. A barrier also blocks access to these four last kilometres, forbidden even to cyclists all year round, on a track barely four meters wide, bordered by a panoramic cogwheel train.

Jonas Vingegaard keeps the yellow jersey at Puy de Dôme

Dane Jonas Vingegaard conceded eight seconds to his Slovenian rival Tadej Pogacar but retains the yellow jersey at the end of the 9th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday at the top of Puy de Dôme. While the winner Michael Woods, survivor of the breakaway, had crossed the line for long minutes, Pogacar attacked 1.5 km from the goal but he failed to dig a significant advantage. Regaining 8 seconds in the end, he is only 17 seconds behind Vingegaard in the general classification.

Start of the 9th stage with the Puy de Dôme in sight

The Tour de France riders took the start at 1:41 p.m. of the 9th stage in Saint-Léonard de Noblat at the end of which a fierce duel at the top of the Puy de Dôme is expected between the two favorites, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. While the Danish yellow jersey and the Slovenian went blow for blow to the Pyrenees, the rest of their duel promises sparks at the end of the 182 km stage on Sunday. The sleepy giant of Auvergne, which the Great Loop has not disturbed for 35 years, should offer 35 minutes of ascent in full from Clermont-Ferrand (13.3 km at 7.7% average gradient) including four final brutal kilometers (12%). In order to preserve this natural site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018, these last kilometers will be prohibited to spectators, deprived of the conclusion of the stage and the unique panorama of the Puys chain.

Only 20% of following vehicles will also be able to use the barely four meter wide track, bordered by a panoramic cogwheel train. Only one car per team, instead of two, will be authorized and this one cannot overtake the stalled riders. After the retirement on Saturday of the Briton Mark Cavendish (Astana) and the Belgian Steff Cras (TotalEnergies), and that announced on Sunday of the United States champion Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segadrefo), there were 169 riders to start under a time very hot and sunny in Saint-Léonard de Noblat (Haute-Vienne), village where Raymond Poulidor died in November 2019. His grandson, the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceunink), seemed very moved before the start during a tribute ceremony to the legendary duel of his grandfather with Jacques Anquetil in 1964.

Puy de Dôme, the awakening of a myth

Vingegaard-Pogacar after Anquetil-Poulidor? The Tour de France revives a myth on Sunday with its 9th stage arriving at Puy de Dôme, deserted from the peloton since 1988. A unique climb, offering as much slope as little respite, coupled with a challenge for the organizers. The image is printed in ink from nostalgia in memories. The 1964 Tour, Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor neck and neck on the spiral tarmac of the Puy de Dôme. “Poupou” taking up 42 seconds, without being able to deprive his rival of a fifth final coronation.

The route of the 9th stage
Credit: official Tour de France website

High mass more than a century old, the Great Loop constantly guarantees round trips to the past. Also, it is tempting to draw a parallel between the flamboyant “Pogi” and “Poupou”, between Vingegaard, the silent man from Nordjylland (region in northern Denmark), and Anquetil, “the one who counted everything”, in the “rather polar to triumph”, to use the formulas of Antoine Blondin. “It’s going to explode in the Puy de Dôme” predicts – and therefore promises – the Slovenian. A new showdown on the pedal is announced, the fifth already in nine stages of this Tour of insane intensity between the two monsters. The sleepy giant of Auvergne, which the Grande Boucle has not disturbed for 35 years, will offer 35 minutes of ascent in full from Clermont-Ferrand (13.3 km at 7.7% average gradient) including four final kilometers brutal (12%).

Vingegaard has “never climbed such a climb”

“It’s very, very steep”, commented at the summit (1,465 m) the winner of the Tour 2022 Jonas Vingegaard, who came to recognize the place on June 2. “I don’t think I’ve ever climbed such a climb,” assured the Dane. “There is no respite, for lack of turns, you have to press the pedals constantly.” “It’s hard mentally too,” added Italian climber Giulio Ciccone. “We see the slope unfold non-stop in front of us,” he said. Because the spiral embracing the extinct volcano seems quite straight for a peloton in full effort. “When you are a cyclist, at the speed at which you are going, you just have the impression of having a wall in front of you which does not move”, describes the man tracing the route of the Tour, Thierry Gouvenou.

Pogacar, he could not recognize the places, he prioritized a training camp after his convalescence. His Polish teammate Rafal Majka therefore scouted for him. “I sent a video to Tadej of the last hectometres. History that he has information”, explained the person concerned. The rest of the time, a barrier blocks access to these last four kilometers, prohibited to cyclists except during a cyclo-sportive, once a year. Question of preservation of the natural site, labeled Grand site of France since 2008 and even world heritage of Unesco since 2018. Combined with the narrowness of the road, this explains the so long absence of the Tour: 35 years. “When Christian joined the management of the Tour de France (in 2004, editor’s note), he said that the first thing he wrote on his computer was + Puy de Dôme +, says Thierry Gouvenou. He did not imagine that would take just as long to get back to it.”

Spectators prohibited

The last section of four kilometers will therefore be prohibited to spectators, deprived of the conclusion of the stage and the unique panorama of the Chaîne des Puys, a strip similar to giant molehills. Gates scattered on the surrounding roads must repel motorhomes. A system of thermal drones was envisaged to spot those who intend to sneak up on the flanks of the volcano. No caravan up there then. Only 20% of following vehicles will be able to use the barely four meter wide track, bordered by a panoramic cogwheel train. Only one car per team will be authorized and this one will not be able to overtake the unhooked riders. Despite scattered repair stations, mechanical incidents are not recommended. But it would still add drama to the myth.