Special envoy to Privas,
The show of force at the top of Orcières-Merlette (4th stage) was not enough.
Jumbo-Visma, built for the final victory in Paris, did not miss the opportunity to demonstrate its domination over the peloton during the 5th stage of the Tour (Gap-Privas, 183 km), this Wednesday.
»READ ALSO -
Tour de France: Yellow card for Julian Alaphilippe
Powerful link of the yellow train in the final climb to Orcières-Merlette (like Tony Martin and Sepp Kuss), Wout Van Aert was once again at the heart of the action on Wednesday.
The solid Belgian smashed the screen of the sprint, foiled Sunweb's plan to beat Cees Bol with a breath, Sam Bennett, Peter Sagan and Jasper Stuyven.
Untouchable in August, winner of the Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and Belgian time trial champion (“winner of almost all the races he has competed in”, as Primoz Roglic sums it up), Wout Van Aert ( 25 years old) confirmed the omnipotence of Jumbo-Visma by signing his 2nd stage victory on the Grande Boucle.
During the 2019 Tour, that of the discovery, he won in Albi, before being mowed down by the time trial in Pau, three days later, after hitting a safety barrier during a turn too tight.
He had been relieved with a deep injury to his right thigh that had left him faced with questions and doubts about an uncertain reconstruction.
"Since the resumption in August, the legs are still there, race after race"
Wout Van Aert
“I didn't think I could get back to this level when I fell last year at Pau.
The months that followed were very hard… It took a lot of work, ”he said, before detailing:“ Since the recovery in August, the legs are still there, race after race.
We are on our way to a great Tour de France, Primoz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin are very strong.
We are very motivated. ”
The only setback in Jumbo-Visma's day was the fall of the American Kuss Sepp, who fell in the final but quickly regained his place less than 20 km from the finish.
A fall of no consequence for the Dutch team after those of Bennett, Dumoulin and Van Aert.
Jumbo-Visma is moving forward, solid and united, and has not been surprised by the maneuver of the Ineos team (led by Egan Bernal) who tried to take advantage of the wind to sow discord.
Jumbo-Visma's response fell after Wout Van Aert's powerful sprint.
Read also
Van Aert, Alaphilippe, Bernal: What to remember from the 5th stage