We expected the spectacular Super-Planche-des-Belles-Filles, Friday, or the first foothills of the Alps, this weekend, to witness the first throwing of banderillas by a Tadej Pogacar chomping at the bit for three days in the north of France.
In a hurry, the Slovenian finally did not want to wait for the first major difficulties of the 2022 edition to strike a blow and already seize the yellow jersey, after a dizzying show of force in Longwy, end point of a 219.9 km marathon stage.
To discover
The general classification of the Tour de France
Tour de France 2022: discover the map and the route of the next edition
Disconcertingly easy, overpowered in the short but selective climb of the Religious before the uphill sprint, the double winner of the Grande Boucle (2020 and 2021) made it a point of honor to pick up his seventh victory in the Tour ahead of Michael Matthews ( BikeExchange) and a very leggy David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), who this Thursday evening closes the top 10 of the general classification behind Romain Bardet (DSM).
Simple appetizer
In the fight for the win in Meurthe-et-Moselle, the two arrows of the Jumbo-Visma team, Primoz Roglic, reassuring after his shoulder dislocation the day before, and Jonas Vingegaard, or even the ambitious Aleksandr Vlasov ( Bora-Hansgrohe) and Enric Mas (Movistar) could do nothing to prevent the Slovenian from taking power, almost surprised to be in yellow so soon after this puncher number.
"The goal was not to take the yellow jersey, but I'm very happy with the victory,"
said the leader of the UAE Team Emirates team, who swallowed the stage at a dizzying speed of more than 49 km /h average.
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Tour de France: Pogacar never so early so high
A fine strategist, Tadej Pogacar waited for the end of the course, well supported by two lieutenants from his training, to drop off 11 km from the end Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), the only survivor of a breakaway launched after 72 km in the company of Jakob Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech) and Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo).
Blaster of a peloton barely recovering from the cobblestones of the day before, the valiant Belgian signed a magnificent (but tactically questionable) last stand, ending the day exhausted more than seven minutes late.
“The stage was very hard, the first two hours were crazy, the strongest
(van Aert)
was in the breakaway and a lot of riders wanted to be in front.
I wondered at one point if we were going to take him back, but the peloton was the strongest.
Then, as I felt good, the team worked hard to put me in the best position,”
added Pogacar.
Obviously stunned by this new demonstration, the competition would be wrong to give up their arms already, even if the 23-year-old prodigy, seeming stronger than ever, has never taken the yellow jersey so early in the Tour de France (in the 8th stage in 2021).
Proof of its indisputable superiority.
From Friday, another race will begin with the ascent of the Super-Planche-des-Belles-Filles and its 20% gradient in the last kilometer, a simple appetizer for the climbers before a formidable crossing of the Alps ending with the ascent of Alpe d'Huez by way of fireworks.
Classification of the 6th stage
: Binche-Longwy (219.9 km): 1. Pogacar (Slo / UAE) in 4 h 27'13;
2. Matthews (Auys/BIK) same time;
3. Gaudu (Fra/GFJ);
4. Pidcock (GB/INE);
5. Quintana (Col / ARK)… 103. Van Aert (Bel / JUM) at 7'28…
General classification
: 1. Pogacar (Slo / UAE) 20 h 44'44;
2. Powerless (EU/EF1) at 4'';
3. Vingegaard (Dan/JUM) 31'';
4. Yates (GB/INE) 39'';
5. Pidcock (GB/INE) 40''.
7th stage, this Friday
: Tomblaine-La Super-Planche-des-Belles-Filles (176.3 km).