Big win for Matthews, with Soler (4th) and a Pogacar unable to beat Vingegaard

Almost no one closed their eyes jonas vingegaard responds with amazing power and ease to repeated attacks of a Tadej Pogafacar who seems to have recovered in his best version but so far he can’t find the right key to shake hard and cause an error in the yellow jersey showing very solid. Such is the concern or need of young Slovenian from the UAE, double winner of Tour de France2020 and 2021, Pogacar has moved the race up to twice nine kilometers from the start of Saint-Etienne. The movements that came to nothing but that served to show the nervousness or the trembling he had in his legs. ‘Handsome’ when seen at 2’22 “from the dane Vingegaard.

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This 14th stage, 192.5 kilometers, with five marking heights and 3,441 meters in altitude difference, was a day in the middle of the mountain that allowed for the formation of a breakaway and offered the final action on the difficult that ascent to Côte de la Croix Neuve (3 km to 10.2%) the perfect terrain for battles to break out.

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The almost first escape of 23 runners, with well -known surnames in it and included Mark Soler Y Luis Leon Sanchez representing Spanish cycling, he made his way with great solvency, with the permission of the peloton and with the group leader, Jumbo-Vismawhich they were allowed to do and only showed some concern when they saw that South African louis meintjes make a big jump in sorting, putting second on the wheel of Vingegaard.

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Many escapes have more than a 14-minute margin, before facing the final climb, where a beautiful show will take place. 43 kilometers from the finish line matthews forced the walk and tried to leave, Luis replied politely Leon Sanchez Y grobschartner. The three left while the back of the escape was cut off and out of doubt they lost contact with the leading trio. Six kilometers from the finish line, the difference is 35 “between the top trio and their former breakaway companions and 13’55” compared to the peloton.

Beautiful and painful ending

Success on stage is deciding on difficult and painful ramps Cote de la Croix Neuve, baptized as ‘Get up Gelabert’ after the French cyclist Laurent was imposed on him the first time he was promoted in 1995. The bikeexchange rider he laid directly, suffering, clenching his teeth, while ‘Louis’ Y grobschartner They stayed. The Italian came from behind like an ejection bettiol, who will catch up with Matthews in the blink of an eye. Sometimes the Italian seems to have success in his pocket, especially with 2.8 kilometers from the finish line and 1,400 meters left on a beautiful climb, with asphalt painted yellow that still gives a more attractive feel to show, he interacted in Italian and even. take a few meters.

But Matthews, far from surrendering, is in control of himself. He threw the jerry can and not only returned with a 400-meter climb but left tired Bettiol to complete the 1,600-meter descent to the finish line on his own and achieve the well-deserved victory, after this Saturday one of the most active cyclists, and finishing second on the two previous occasions already on this Tour. The third time is the charm and the Canberra achieved his 39th professional success and an important achievement for his team, BikeExchangein the fight to maintain the category.

In a few minutes the show will repeat on the yellow ramps of New Cross. With a UAE that Vingegaard is sometimes cornered, finding himself in the first bars of the climb without his teammates, Jumbo, but resolving head-ups in Pogacar with great security. Tadej, as he pointed out in the previous attack, maintains a high rate of ascent. He forced his rival, on a terrain that suited him, on an explosive and short climb, which in theory was not good for Vingegaard, but Dane did not deviate a millimeter from the Slovenian’s wheel, which had to be constantly trying or making new strategies to try to return to the Tour throne.