If someone from the organization had asked Wout van Aert how he would like a final time trial of the Tour de France, 24 hours from the Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Belgian cyclist would have recited his requests. I want it to be tough and technical, about 40 kilometers long, to start downhill to pick up speed quickly, but one of those with curves and that you have to pedal, that we are protected by trees for a large part of the route, which will take us to cross a couple of towns and that in the end there are two climbs to finish destroying the legs, a couple of stretched heights, not explosive but it does bite upwards the last kilometer and a half, to demoralize. A lot of power and little aerodynamics, it could be summed up. His wishes were all fulfilled, one by one. Just as he has gone, such as the modern Hercules that he is, fulfilling to the letter and brilliantly with all his work day by day on the Tour. His last task was to round off the Jumbo party, complete an unforgettable Tour for his team and for his leader, Jonas Vingegaard, who this Sunday will climb to the top of the podium in Paris to collect the yellow jersey.
And Van Aert, he took that goal as he takes everything. With a tremendous love for the profession and cycling. With a desire and a motivation to win and to shine, to leave his mark as he has done in almost all the 20 stages he has contested. And like him, he will surely do it on Sunday to try to beat the pure sprinters before seizing the green jersey of regularity that belongs to him with total justice.
At 2:55 p.m. Filippo Ganna arrived at the Rocamadour finish line and the time trial world champion provisionally placed first. There was more than an hour left for Lacapelle-Marival Van Aert, who knew at that moment that he would have to go faster than 50 km/h if he wanted to win the stage. And boy did he do it.
The Belgian smashed the time of the world champion in the modality. For this he had reserved at the arrival of Cahors, placing Laporte in an unbeatable position to win and moving away to save himself a very explosive effort. He was the first to drop from 48 minutes. He rolled with amazing ease, with the intensity that has characterized him these three weeks, without saving anything. At no time did the previous exhibitions take their toll on him, it did not affect him to be in the breakaway on the way to Foix and Hautacam in the Pyrenees. He was fully recovered, recovered. And he cut Ganna's time by 42 seconds.
However, as soon as the last three came out, the first three overall, the Belgian saw that he would suffer until the end. Pogacar had gone all out, looking for an impossible miracle, which logically did not occur. Because Vingegaard was not yet on vacation. He took it very seriously. He was not going to make the same mistake as Roglic on the Planche des Belles Filles in 2020. The Dane went through the first timed point with the fastest time. There would be no room for surprise.
Although the stage victory was in the air. Pogacar wanted the fourth to go home as second but with a good taste in his mouth despite not being able to chain his third Tour. Vingegaard, who already did a better final time than the Slovenian last year, was also struggling. In fact, he dominated all the step times of the stage. But a curve to the left, like the two of the descent of Spandelles, crossed him. He was about to hit the wall. There he decided that it was better not to risk. And, knowing that Pogacar did not improve Van Aert, he raised his foot to the finish line.
That scare was the secret of the Belgian's triumph, an out of class who always runs as if there were no tomorrow. A gift for the fans, their team and their leaders. He has been the fastest Tour locomotive in history: at an average of 42,599 km/h, so far. “I am very tired but I wanted to win this stage,” said an emotional Van Aert.
What more can a team that is going to win the Tour, two stages and the points jersey of the king of the mountain ask for? Having Wout van Aert, who has won another three and worked for Laporte's triumph, and also takes the green jersey. Six partial victories take the Jumbo, whose power, even without Roglic, has been overwhelming. A well-oiled, collective and coral machine that has defeated Pogacar.
The party was complete for the Jumbo and for a Vingegaard, who was awaited at the finish line by his partner, Trine, and their daughter, Frida. The Dane, the best in the Alps and the Pyrenees, is the only one not overshadowed by Van Aert. Yellow will shine this Sunday in Paris.
