Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) crushed the competitors on Saturday’s flat pace stage in the Tour de France. The Belgian thus took this year’s second stage victory.
– Winning a pace stage in the Tour de France was one of the biggest goals of my career. I have been very focused on this stage the last few days, so I am glad I made it happen, says Van Aert.
The closest stage winner was Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), who was 21 seconds behind van Aert. Van Aert’s Danish teammate Jonas Vingegaard was third with 32 seconds up and secured second place overall.
There was no new tempo winner for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), but the Slovenian had the overall winner under full control. It is the second year in a row that Vegard Stake Laengen’s teammate wins the yellow jersey in the Tour – if he reaches the finish line safely on Sunday’s stage.
In the pace stage, Pogacar finished ninth, 57 seconds behind Wout Van Aert.
Pogacar is a full 5.20 ahead of Vingegaard in the summary. The Dane took in 25 seconds on the 22-year-old from Slovenia on Saturday’s stage.
– I did not expect to be number three on the last stage. I have good legs, but I do not really know how I did it. I was very determined not to lose second place, says Vingegaard to Danish TV 2.
Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) is number three in the summary. Before the last stage he is 7.03 behind Pogacar.
Sunday’s journey into Paris with the expected mass sprint on the Champs-Élysées is considered a transport stage for the combined candidates.
There were no changes in the top positions in the overall competition.
European tempo champion Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) was among many considered the biggest favorite on the stage, but came in fourth place.
– I went hard from the start on the first kilometers. I was so motivated and geared up. I felt very good, and I wanted the victory, because I have been close twice now. I wanted a little too much. It was not my best performance, and I wish I could do it all over again, says Küng to TV 2.
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