Thursday 21st July 2022
Stage 18: Lourdes - Hautacam (143.2km)
If Jonas manages to hang-on to Tadej’s coat-tails after those 3 climbs he will deserve to win this tour.
However, that’s a very big if…
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…from what I have seen I believe Jonas can hang in there with Tadej.
I am looking forward to watching tomorrow’s race and hope that everyone is on top form.
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That effort from Fabio Jakobsen to beat the time limit was a hard watch. What determination he has. Utmost respect to him, he never seems to give up whatever the obstacle.
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3 non-starters for today’s Stage 18, all tested positive for Covid:
Imanol Erviti 
Movistar Team
Damiano Caruso 
Bahrain - Victorious
Chris Froome 
Israel - Premier Tech
140 on the start line today (from the original field of 176)
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This race is far more interesting and refreshing that a few years ago, when Team Sky were dominating Grand Tour peletons throughout Europe.
It has been a thoroughly enjoyable and really entertaining race.
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May well see Jumbo Visma dominating for the foreseeable future…
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STAGE 18 RESULTS: LOURDES TO HAUTACAM (143KM)
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, in 3-59-50
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-04
- Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-10
- Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 2-54
- David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-58
- Aleksey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan, at 3-09
- Daniel Martinez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at same time
- Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma, at 3-27
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 4-04
- Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 4-09
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GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 18
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, in 71-53-34
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 3-26
- Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 8-00
- David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 11-05
- Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkea-Samsic, at 13-35
- Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux, at 13-43
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 14-10
- Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, at 16-11
- Aleksey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan, at 20-09
- Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 20-17
GREEN JERSEY AFTER STAGE 18
- Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, 451 pts
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 219 pts
- Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix, 196 pts
- Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo, 158 pts
- Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, 155 pts
MOUNTAINS JERSEY AFTER STAGE 18
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, 72 pts
- Simon Geschke (Deu) Cofidis, 64pts
- Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 61pts
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 61 pts
- Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, 59 pts
YOUNG RIDER JERSEY AFTER STAGE 18
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 71-57
- Tom Pidcock (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 49-34
- Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-20-14
TEAMS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 18
- Ineos Grenadiers, in 216-02-48
- Groupama-FDJ, at 32-57
- Jumbo-Visma, at 41-41
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Exceptional win of Vingegaard, i wasn’t sure he had it in him but seeing is believing.
Although, i was right about the Polkadot jersey.
A very tough stage, fast too, and incredibly all 140 finished.
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For me, man of the match is Wout v. Aert - fantastic ride for his Team. Amazing all rounder…
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Managed to watch most of the race Live today - all quite amazing.
The wobble that Vingegaard had and Pogača hitting the gravel when they were on a descent and the act of sportsmanship displayed after was incredible.
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Friday 22nd July 2022
Stage 19 Castelnau-Magnoac - Cahors (188.3km)
It’s not quite over yet, crosswinds are predicted on today’s flat stage which could split the peloton, and a pair of category 4 climbs near the end of the stage to tempt attacks, but the stage win is expected to be up for the sprinters.
Another ongoing issue is the Covid virus which has been stealthily taking out riders during this tour.
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That was an incredibility generous thing to do, I love seeing stuff like that in sport. Gives us all hope there is humanity out there.
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He’s been a machine this tour, just incredible day in day out. I have to say it’s been an amazing race this year and will be sad when it ends!
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Enric Mas Movistar - DNS
Bad news for Movistar’s best placed GC contender who has become the next unlucky lottery victim of a positive Covid test.
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139 starters for today’s Stage 19
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STAGE 19 RESULTS: CASTELNAU-MAGNOAC TO CAHORS (188KM)
- Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma, in 3-52-04
- Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck, at 1s
- Alberto Dainese (Ita) Team DSM,
- Florian Senechal (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl,
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates,
- Amaury Capiot (Bel) Arkea-Samsic,
- Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco,
- Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Arkea-Samsic,
- Luka Mezgec (Slo) BikeExchange-Jayco,
- Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto Soudal, all at same time
(no changes to jersey wearers or top GC positions)
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A pity the breakaways got caught, but it made for an unpredictable finish.
2 Likes
Saturday 23rd July 2022
Stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival - Rocamadour (40.7km) [ Individual Time Trial ]
Can’t see this time trail causing any GC podium changes unless there is a crash or another + covid test but let’s hope not.
Today’s stage is all about who is going to win it (?)
Geraint Thomas will be psyched up for a blistering time today, probably will do too,
but my stage 20 winner guess is Filippo Ganna.
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Jumbo loose another team member today:
Nathan van Hooydonck 
Jumbo-Visma - DNS
138 riders will line up for today’s 40km time trail.
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Good to see the French finally winning a stage. 
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STAGE 20 RESULTS 40.7km time trial
- Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, in 47:59.86
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, at 19 seconds
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 27
- Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 32
- Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers, at 42
- Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 1:22
- Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl, at 1:25
- Fred Wright (GBR) Bahrain Victorious, at 1:32
- Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 1:37
- Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain Victorious, at 1:48
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 20
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, in 76-33-57
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 3-34
- Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 8-13
- David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 13-56
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 16-37
- Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkea-Samsic, at 17-24
- Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, at 19-02
- Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux, at 19-12
- Aleksey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan, at 23-47
- Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 25-43
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Fantastic performances from the usual suspects, the top four GC remain in position and a GC shuffle up between 5th to 8th positions with Aleksandr Vlasov moving up two positions to 5th, Roman Bardet moves up one position to 7th, Nairo Quintana drops a position to 6th, and Louis Meintjes down two positions to 8th.
Interesting course, very scenic hilly with fascinating architecture, the roads were fast and rolling and narrow at times, really glad the rain held off 
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A big thanks from me too, Debs. I might be reading too much in to why Jonas attacked the TT in the way he did yesterday but I will always remember the look of shock and disbelief Wout and Tom Dumoulin exchanged when it all went wrong and the yellow jersey was lost in the 2020 final TT. It must be devastating when you think it’s in the bag for the team and it’s blown apart at practically the last moment, for Primoz and the team who gave all to get him there. For me it might be why Jonas was so reluctant to say he had won the Tour until after the TT, his aggressive ride yesterday and also Wout’s emotional reaction. Something got in my eye at the end too… Jonas looked so tiny in big Wout’s embrace. Jonas’ power to weight ratio must be off the scale. What a most excellent Tour it has been.
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A fine Tour. I managed to catch a few stages live, but they were amonghst the most exciting and significant!
It does feel that a new exciting generation has fully arrived. An article in the newspaper pointed out that the organisers should take some credit with a wider mixture of stages now the norm. Cobbles, gravel, short steep finishes, wind exposed routes etc etc. Only two bunch sprints so far, probably one more today. The new generation of riders seem to be more often multi-discipline and capable across a wider range of stage profiles. Similarly fewer ‘pure’ sprinters teams seems to make for more unpredictability.
Thanks as ever to Debs for this thread.
Bruce
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