On Friday, the Stage 7 time trial of the Tour de France concluded the first week of racing. In the process, the stage further clarified the GC picture that many had expected before the start of three weeks of action on the way to Nice from the race’s great Tuscan jaunt.
The 25.3km test, against the clock against the backdrop of the vineyards of Burgundy, brought key performances for the ‘big four’ Tour de France contenders – yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar, world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel, defending champion Jonas Wingegaard. , and 2020 runner-up Primoz Roglič.
Evenepoel may have conquered Stage 7, in line with most predictions before the blast half an hour south of Dijon, but the order at the top of the overall standings is as listed above, as it was on Thursday night.
Vingegaard, winner of the last two Tour de France editions and a man who has beaten Pogacar in the race’s two most recent time trials, may have wasted more time – 22 seconds – to his great rival of recent summers. Nevertheless, he later insisted that he was very pleased with his trip.
“Honestly, I think it was a good time trial for me,” Vinggard said. “I am happy with my performance and to lose only 37 seconds to Remco in the time trial which is really suitable for him, is great for me.”
The Dane has spent most of the season battling a list of injuries sustained in a massive crash in the Itzulia Basque Country in April, and his form, and ability to get back to racing immediately at this high level, was in some doubt. In tour.
Indeed, before the start of the race in Florence, he said, “Everything from here on out is a bonus”, after reaching the start line.
Now, he is flying high and everything is going according to plan, except for a 50-second defeat to Pogacar in the high-mountain meet of Stage 4 over the Col du Galibier.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a big hit, but quite the contrary – that I expected more time to be lost,” Vingegaard said of Stage 7. “It’s a time trial that’s more for (Pogacar).” It’s good to only lose 25 seconds to them today. Last year I took seven and a half minutes, so the power is there, and we just have to trust our plan.”
Wingegaard had passed through the stages’ three intermediate checkpoints – at the base of the mid-stage hill, at the summit, and after the descent – reaching third place, with a 22-second deficit to Pogačar after 19.5 km, and Evenepoel. Another three for.
He was four seconds up on Roglic, although a slight fall on the final run down the line cost him more time. He finished his ride 37 seconds behind the winner, 25 seconds behind Pogačar, and four seconds behind Roglič.
“I felt good on the climb,” Vinggard said. “Especially in the first part of the time trial, I felt really good. I died a little bit before the end but I think I had some good power so I can be happy with that.
“Like I said before the start, everything is a bonus. Of course, I have ambitions and I want to do well. But whatever happens, happens and I can’t change it.”
Despite the time loss that day, which if recent tours are anything to go by, was probably minor in the grand scheme of things, Vingegaard said it was not the day that caused him the most anxiety before the start of the race. . Neither was Galibier Day, he said.
“I think San Luca was probably the day I was most worried about. There, I didn’t lose time.
“Today I only lost 25 seconds on a course that is much more suitable for Remco and Tadej than it is for me. So, just to lose it makes it a good day for me today.”
A final question asked of Wingegard asked how he felt about his performance as the race progressed.
Is that increasing as the stages go by and is he back in full racing mode after such a long break? His answer was short and clear.
“Yes.”
Get unlimited access to all our coverage of the Tour de France – including breaking news and analysis reported by our journalists on the ground from every stage of the race, and much more. Get more information,