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!
2nd, 2nd, 2nd… 1st. WOUT VAN AERT! Yellow, green and now a stage win. What can't he do? 🤩 #TDF2022
— Katy M – Tour mode! 🇩🇰❤️ (@writebikerepeat) July 5, 2022
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.
💥 @JumboVismaRoad on the attack! A team attack like on @ParisNice, and they drop almost everyone!
💥 L'attaque collective de @JumboVismaRoad ! Comme sur @ParisNice, ils profitent de la dernière difficulté pour visser !#TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/QAuhF7wsHH
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2022
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.
💛 The Yellow Jersey is solo up top! @WoutvanAert is taking on the final 10km! What panache!
💛 Le @MaillotjauneLCL est seul en tête ! @WoutvanAert s'en va tout seul à l'assaut des 10 derniers kilomètres ! Quel coup de panache !#TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/rMIoQwwpAa
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2022
He kept the power on, dropping teammates and rivals alike until he was at the head of affairs with daylight between him and pack.
Hahaha WVA does not care for your sprint trains. #TDF2022 #CouchPeloton
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) July 5, 2022
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
How do you ensure you don't come 2nd for the 4th stage in a row?
Win solo.
Wout Van Aert, folks 👏👏👏#TDF2022 #ITVCycling pic.twitter.com/aKkIe47kvg
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 5, 2022
Reminded me of Cancellara winning in Compiègne in 2007 in the maillot jaune – but he 'only' anticipated the sprint by going extremely long on the final km. This was truly epic.
— Lukas Knöfler 💙💛 (@lukascph) July 5, 2022
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.
I don’t get it. Are Jumbo Visma riding for stage wins or GC or does WvA just do what he wants #TDF2022
— Procyclingnews.eu (@Procyclingeu) July 5, 2022
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
Interviewer: "are you tired of bunch sprint?"
Wout: "yeah, didn't want to take the risk anymore" *wink*
— How The Race Was Won® (@Cyclocosm) July 5, 2022
"This jersey gives you wings!"
Wout Van Aert talks through the Jumbo-Visma attack that set up his solo victory.#TDF2022 #ITVCycling pic.twitter.com/8BdOaYwtdF
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 5, 2022
I love these moments with the van Aert family
On the phone with son George
Peak #DadWatts. #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/ETX3VgWYev
— daniel mcmahon (@cyclingreporter) July 5, 2022
Proud parents catching the finish
Wout Van Aert's parents were watching him win on a phone behind the finish line 🥰️#TDF2022 #ITVCycling pic.twitter.com/QYf3w0jREI
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 5, 2022
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.
#TDF2022 / L’échappée s’est formée à l’avant. 🇫🇷 Anthony Perez (COF) est accompagné par 🇩🇰 Magnus Cort Nielsen (EFE), le maillot a pois. #LesRP pic.twitter.com/oGB3VSrf96
— Renaud Breban (@RenaudB31) July 5, 2022
Cort swept up the polka points while Perez took the most combative prize.
"It was planned! The team let me go so I made the most of it from the off. It was a pleasure to share the road with @MagnusCort, a great rider, in front of the Northern crowds"#TDF2022 https://t.co/Ig5pvY4f8l
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2022
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.
Magnus Cort equals Federico Bahamontes' 64-year-old record by winning the first seven classified climbs of a Tour de France edition.
— CafeRoubaix (@CafeRoubaix) July 5, 2022
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.
2 wildcard teams invited. B&B Hotels tried but failed epically on stage 1, and Total hasn't tried at all. Imagine Uno X having been invited. They would've been in the break every day. I know what I would've chosen… #TDF2022
— Jens Dekker (@jens_dekker) July 5, 2022
Final thought
Spare a thought for Jasper
Poor Jasper Philipsen
Tour de France 2021
Stage 3: 🥈
Stage 4: 🥉
Stage 6: 🥈
Stage 10: 🥉
Stage 13: 🥉
Stage 21: 🥈Tour de France 2022
Stage 3: 🥉
Stage 4: 🥈— José Been (@TourDeJose) July 5, 2022
LAST WORD
When even the professionals are stunned!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 YES https://t.co/JTPg7RJypR
— Elia Viviani (@eliaviviani) July 5, 2022
All the results
Stage results
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
🎽 Jerseys after stage 4 / Maillots distinctifs après l'étape 4
💛 @WoutvanAert
💚 @WoutvanAert
🔴 @MagnusCort
👶 @TamauPogi #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/QSDSEPR7aD— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2022
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