@ A.S.0 / Charly Lopez

Tour de France (Fra): Pogacar on another level

What a first week of the Tour de France! If it was Mathieu Van Der Poel who illuminated the first part of the race with his class, winning in particular the second stage and wearing the leader’s jersey for six days, it was the defending champion Tadej Pogacar who quieted all debates about who is the strongest. Winner of the stage 5 time trial in Mayenne, the Slovenian hit nearly a knockout blow in the first mountain stage, the finish of which was at Le Grand-Bornand. Even Australia’s Ben O’Connor’s victory the next day in Tignes couldn’t change anything. After nine stages, the UAE Team Emirates rider is already 2’01” ahead of the AG2R CITROËN rider, and 5’18” ahead of Colombian Rigoberto Uran. The second part of the Tour promises to be exciting!

The general classification: 1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; 2. Ben O’Connor (AG2R CITROËN TEAM) ; 3. Rigoberto Uran (EF Education Nippo) 

Stages won by: Julian Alaphilippe, Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck Quick Step) ; Mathieu Van Der Poel et Tim Merlier (Alpecin Fenix) ; Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; Matej Mohoric et Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Victorious) ; Ben O’Connor (AG2R CITROËN TEAM)

***** 

 

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile: Van Der Breggen again in control

The Trek Segafredo Team won the inaugural time trial between Fossano and Cuneo, allowing American Ruth Winder to don the first leader’s jersey. But the very next day, Anna Van Der Breggen reminded everyone that she was indeed the strongest rider at the Giro. The Dutchwoman, and double World Champion last year in ITT and road race, won the second stage solo with a 1’22” lead over her SD Worx teammate Ashleigh Moolman. Already a triple winner of the Giro Rosa (2015-2017-2020), Van Der Breggen seems to have taken a serious option on a 4th victory.

The general classification: 1. Van Der Breggen (SD Workx); 2. Ashleigh Moolman (SD Worx) ; 3. Demi Vollering (SD Worx) 

Stages won by: Trek Segafredo ; Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx) ; Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma) 

 

*****

The races to come

Tour de France (Fra), 26/06-18/07, www.letourdefrance.fr

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile (Ita), 2-11/07, www.giroditaliadonne.it