An incredible and incredible micmac plagued the end of the stage for the Jumbo-Visma team when Jonas Vingegaard suffered a mechanical incident.
Special envoy to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut
Dreaded by the whole peloton, the cobblestone stage in the north of France kept all its promises this Wednesday with a slew of breaks, falls and numerous mechanical incidents. Jonas Vingegaard, second in the 2021 Tour de France edition, did not escape this avalanche of micro-events which will have very serious consequences on the general classification even before the end of the first week of racing.
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While the passages on the cobblestone sectors were linked and the peloton already exploded into a thousand pieces 36 km from the finish, the Dane suffered a mechanical glitch. Fortunately, the giant Nathan Van Hooydonck (1.93m) sacrificed himself at his side to lend him his bike but it turned out to be far too big for the Scandinavian and his 1m75, forced to call his training to to get another bike. This one being slow to come, another teammate, Steven Kruijswijk, stepped aside to entrust his own in a hurry. Again, failed! The bike once again turned out to be too big for him.
A four-man bike waltz
The Jumbo-Visma team car finally came up to the Dane who just had time to give a few pedal strokes before making a new stop. There followed, in panic, an incredible improvisation scene, where everyone was able to recover their bike. Four runners found themselves stopped at the side of the road. A happy bazaar finally back in order but which could cost Tadej Pogacar’s dolphin in the general classification very dearly in 2022.