Defying the Rough Terrain: Simon Clarke’s Triumph on the Cobblestones in Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France

Exciting Victory for Simon Clarke in Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France

In a thrilling turn of events during Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France, Simon Clarke from Israel-Premier Tech emerged as the winner after a grueling route that featured 19 kilometers of challenging cobblestones. In a photo finish, Clarke narrowly edged out Taco van der Hoorn from Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert to claim the top spot on the podium. Both Clarke and van der Hoorn were part of a small breakaway group that included Edvald Boasson-Hagen from TotalEnergies and Neilson Powless from EF Education-EasyPost. This group successfully avoided being caught by the chasing peloton.

Stage 5 Results

  • Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) – 03:13:35
  • Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert) – +0:00
  • Edvald Boasson-Hagen (TotalEnergies) – +0:02

Despite a crash and close calls, Wout van Aert from Jumbo-Visma managed to hold onto the yellow jersey for another day. However, his lead was reduced to just 13 seconds, with Neilson Powless now in second place overall in the General Classification (GC). Notably, defending champion Tadej Pogacar successfully navigated the challenging cobblestones of Stage 5 without any trouble and is now just 19 seconds behind the leader, taking advantage of a difficult day for Jumbo-Visma.

Clarke’s Impressive Performance and Team Reward

At 36 years old, Simon Clarke entered the new year without a team or a contract. Eventually, Israel-Premier Tech signed the Australian rider, and he wasted no time in making an impact by delivering his team’s first-ever stage victory. To avoid potential crashes on the cobblestones, Clarke joined a six-man breakaway group in Stage 5, which included Taco van der Hoorn, Edvald Boasson-Hagen, Neilson Powless, Magnus Cort, and Jasper Stuyven. As the stage reached its conclusion, all the riders in the breakaway were physically exhausted. However, their lead was significant enough that they didn’t need to worry about being caught by the chasing pack led by Pogacar.

“I still can’t believe I made it to the finish line,” said Clarke. “Taco was ahead of me with less than 50 meters to go, and both my legs were burning. I just gave it my all and hoped it was enough. I need to watch the replay; I still can’t quite believe it myself.” Van der Hoorn narrowly missed victory in the photo finish, while Boasson-Hagen, fatigued from the effort, finished third, two seconds behind the leaders. Powless secured fourth place in the stage, just four seconds behind Clarke and Van der Hoorn. Although he missed the opportunity to snatch the yellow jersey, Powless expressed his satisfaction with accomplishing his goal of joining the breakaway and advancing in the overall GC standings.

Trials and Triumphs for Jumbo-Visma

Jumbo-Visma encountered a series of challenges during Stage 5. Wout van Aert, wearing the yellow jersey, suffered a crash with 95 kilometers to go. Although it appeared that he might have injured his collarbone, he quickly remounted his bike and chased down the peloton. In a fortunate turn of events, van Aert narrowly avoided a second crash when he skillfully maneuvered to avoid colliding with a DSM team car.

With approximately 30 kilometers remaining, Primoz Roglic also crashed at a roundabout, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Miraculously, Roglic managed to reset his shoulder on his own, without any assistance from medical staff, and continued to complete the stage. However, the crash cost him over two minutes, significantly diminishing his overall chances in the race. He plummeted to 44th place and now trails Pogacar by 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

Adding to Jumbo-Visma’s misfortunes, Jonas Vingegaard experienced a mechanical issue with his bike. Despite the best efforts of a taller teammate to exchange bikes, it proved impractical, and Vingegaard had to rely on the team car to provide him with a replacement. As a result of these setbacks, Pogacar seized the opportunity to extend his lead over the Jumbo-Visma GC contenders by chasing down the breakaway group.

The exceptional efforts of van Aert and the teamwork displayed by Jumbo-Visma allowed Vingegaard to reduce Pogacar’s lead. As it stands, Vingegaard sits in seventh place overall, just 21 seconds behind Pogacar. While Roglic’s chances of winning the Tour de France have taken a blow, Vingegaard remains a contender thanks to the heroic performances of van Aert and the collective efforts of Jumbo-Visma.

Looking Ahead to Stage 6: Binche to Longwy

Stage 6 of the Tour de France presents the peloton with a challenging 220-kilometer route from Binche to Longwy, skirting along the French-Belgian border. The stage features hilly terrain, culminating in the first summit finish of this year’s Tour after a Category 3 ascent of Cote de Pulventeux.

This stage offers an opportunity for climbers aiming to secure a stage victory. However, some of the top contenders in the General Classification might opt for a more conservative approach after surviving the cobblestones in the previous stage. Wout van Aert, the current favorite to win Stage 6 with +350 odds according to DraftKings, might take it relatively easy, considering his position in the yellow jersey. Tadej Pogacar, with +850 odds, could potentially increase the pressure on other GC contenders or decide to conserve energy in preparation for the challenges ahead.

Stage hunters to watch out for include Matej Mohoric from Bahrain-Victorious and Michael Matthews from BikeExchange-Jayco, both listed at +1400 odds to win Stage 6.

Current General Classification Standings

  • Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) – 16:17:22
  • Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) – +0:13
  • Edvald Boasson-Hagen (TotalEnergies) – +0:14
  • Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – +0:19
  • Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) – +0:25

Tadej Pogacar currently occupies fourth place in the General Classification, trailing Wout van Aert by 19 seconds. Pogacar remains the favorite to win the Tour de France with -360 odds, aiming for a remarkable three-peat. Jonas Vingegaard, last year’s runner-up, is considered Pogacar’s closest competitor, with +300 odds.

On the other hand, Prim

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Doug I. Jones

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