2022 season, Grand Tours, Tour de France

Tour de France 2022: Stage 4 – Wout flies solo to imperious victory

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Stage four of the Tour de France saw Wout van Aert and his Jumbo-Visma raiders rip it up on the Cat4 Côte du Cap Blanc-Nez. Their searing attack put everyone on the backfoot – including their teammates- and out of that chaos flew van Aert, riding like the yellow-clad winged messenger of the cycling gods he is. He powered through the next 10km with a solo display of imperiousness, then flew over the finish line, arms outstretched and smile all over his face. Behind him Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Jasper Philipsen celebrated second in the bunch sprint, surely he could not have missed the glorious yellow taking the stage?? Christophe Laporte ensured two Jumbo-Visma on the stage podium. The only change on GC is that Wout now has even more seconds over his rivals.

ENFIN!!

Second, second and yellow jersey, second and now the much longed for first place – AT LAST!

Who needs echelons when you have WOUT! I have run out of superlatives for the man. He can do what he wants, when he wants, and seemingly at will. But he can’t do it all without his team and the Jumbo Bees were buzzing today. The rolling parcours had been leg sapping all day, but with the last of six climbs coming with 10km to go, we all hoped we’d see a reprise of THAT stage at Paris Nice this year. We are not disappointed.

Nathan Van Hooydonck lit the blue touch paper, followed by a blistering surge from Tiesj Benoot, and as the panic bells started ringing, Wout pressed the accelerator and took the lead.

He kept the power on, dropping teammates and rivals alike until he was at the head of affairs with daylight between him and pack.

All he had to do was slip into TT mode and keep his advantage. Writing it sounds so simple, watching it was pure unadulterated joy. Even his victory salute was brilliant

There were many commentators and fans who were stunned by the performance but questioning of the tactics. With Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) showing the teensiest bit of isolation and out of position, should he have taken Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard with him? The truth is neither could hold his wheel and as long as he was away solo and not taking a rival with him, then he was clear to go for the win.

Here’s his post race interview, and if you were a little perplexed by the Jumbo Bees tactics, Wout has your answers.

I salute the audacious cheek of his first answer

I love these moments with the van Aert family

On the phone with son George

Proud parents catching the finish

BRING ON THE PAVE!!

More pox points for Magnus Cort

With a rolling parcours and 6 more King of Mountains points on offer, guess who was in the break again today?? OF COURSE it was EF’s Magnus Cort, this time with Anthony Perez of the Mighty Dis for company – truly a break made for VeloVoices Journal Velo and yours truly.

Cort swept up the polka points while Perez took the most combative prize.

Magnus captured 5 of the 6 KOM points on offer, meaning he has won the first 11 classified climbs of the Tour de France. I did have to smile that this feat surpasses the previous record held by legendary climber the Eagle of Toledo – You can only ride the classified climbs that are on the route.

The lack of riders in the break has puzzled me too. It seems strange, I hope it becomes more competitive, and yes, I believe Uno-X would have ridden fiercely to have their TV time.

Final thought

Spare a thought for Jasper

LAST WORD

When even the professionals are stunned!

All the results

Stage results

Embed from Getty Images

1 Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 4:01:36

2 Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:08

3 Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) same time

4 Alexander Kristoff (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) s.t

5 Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) s.t.

GC Top 10 

1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 13:02:43

2 Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +0:25

3 Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team-Emirates) +0:32

4 Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) +0:36

5 Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:38

6 Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) +0:40

7 Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) +0:41

8 Adam Yates (Ineos) +0:48

9 Stefan Kung (FDJ) same time

10 Tom Pidcock (Ineos) +0:49

All the Jerseys

Leader’s jersey : Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma)

Points jersey : Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma)

King of the Mountains: Magnus Cort (EF Education-Easy Post)

Best young rider: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

Team : Jumbo Visma 

For full stage reviews, go to cyclingnews

Official Tour de France website is here

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