Tadej Pogacar Emerges Victorious Once Again
In another thrilling display of skill and endurance, Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates clinched his second consecutive stage win at the 2022 Tour de France. This time, he triumphed in Stage 7, which featured a challenging summit finish at La Super Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges Mountains. Pogacar held off a final assault from Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma to secure his victory.
A Mountainous Stage Showcases the Climbers
Stage 7 marked the first mountain stage of the Tour de France, beginning in Tomblaine and covering a distance of 176.5 km before culminating at La Super Planche des Belles Filles. The climbers truly shone in this grueling stage, with riders pushing their limits to conquer the demanding terrain.
The chase pack, comprising the General Classification (GC) contenders, caught up with Lennard Kamna of Bora-Hansgrohe on the final ascent of La Super Planche des Belles Filles. Kamna had held a 35-second lead, but his advantage evaporated as the pursuing riders closed in. Pogacar displayed remarkable patience, waiting until the last 15 meters of the race to surge ahead and leave a fatigued Vingegaard behind. The uphill finish featured a punishing 24% gradient and a windy road, making Pogacar’s achievement all the more impressive.
Stage 7 Results
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – 03:58:40
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) – +0:00
- Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) – +0:12
Vingegaard secured second place in Stage 7, propelling him to second place overall in the GC standings. He now trails Pogacar by a margin of 35 seconds. Primoz Roglic, also from Jumbo-Visma, claimed third place in the stage but finished 12 seconds behind Pogacar and Vingegaard.
Tadej Pogacar wins consecutive stages at the 2022 Tour de France with an impressive uphill sprint finish in Stage 7 at La Super Planche des Belles Filles. (Image: Daniel Cole/AP)
The stage finale provided an exhilarating spectacle, captivating spectators with its intensity. The thrilling competition on La Super Planche des Belles Filles showcased the remarkable skills of the race favorites. Fans can relive the final kilometer to witness the triumphant moment when Pogacar overtook Vingegaard in the closing meters of the stage.
Stage 7: Tomblaine > La Super Planche des Belles Filles
The race witnessed a breakaway group emerging after the initial 50 km, which included Dylan Teuns of Bahrain Victorious. Teuns had previously won a stage at La Super Planche des Belles Filles during the 2019 Tour de France. Lennard Kamna, representing Bora-Hansgrohe, was part of the group that built a two-minute lead over the peloton. A chase pack consisting of the major GC contenders formed, powered by UAE Team Emirates.
With 2.5 km to go, the chase pack, comprised of approximately 20 riders, reduced Kamna’s lead to 45 seconds. As the road transitioned from pavement to gravel, the air filled with dust, creating an immersive atmosphere. The reduced pack, now comprising only a dozen riders, lost sight of Kamna ahead of them, and Kamna, in turn, couldn’t discern the pack closing in on him.
Within the final 200 meters, Pogacar, Vingegaard, Roglic, and Geraint Thomas chased down Kamna. Vingegaard initiated an attack, prompting a swift response from Pogacar, who followed his rival’s wheel. Both riders surged past Kamna during the challenging windy climb toward the finish line. Vingegaard gradually faded in the final ten meters, allowing Pogacar to cross the finish line victoriously while looking back at his opponent.
Vingegaard graciously acknowledged Pogacar’s strength, expressing satisfaction with his own performance. He remained hopeful that he would fare better in the forthcoming longer climbs, as his legs felt strong during the stage.
Pogacar’s decision not to yield the stage victory to Vingegaard or allow another team to claim the yellow jersey demonstrated his determination to retain the coveted leader’s jersey while clinching the stage win.
Preview of Stage 8: Dole > Lausanne
On the first Saturday of mountainous racing, the Tour de France ventures into the Alps with a 186.3 km route from Dole to Lausanne. This relatively tranquil mountain stage features two Category 3 climbs and two Category 4 climbs. The stage concludes atop the Cote du Stade Olympique, a challenging 4.9 km ascent with an average gradient of 4.5%.
As expected, the climbers will be the favored contenders for this stage. However, the question arises: Will Pogacar adopt a more relaxed approach and allow a breakaway to succeed, enabling a French stage hunter to claim victory? Alternatively, will Pogacar maintain relentless pressure on the GC contenders, especially Vingegaard and Thomas? Our prediction favors Wout van Aert, offering odds of +350, as a potential winner of this exhilarating stage. Keep an eye out for Australian rider Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco), who might also launch a stage-hunting endeavor.
Overall GC Standings – Tour de France 2022
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – 24:43:14
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) – +0:35
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) – +1:10
- Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) – +1:18
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) – +1:31
Stage 7 witnessed Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France champion from Ineos Grenadiers, finishing in fifth place and climbing to third place overall, trailing Pogacar by 70 seconds. Thomas’ teammate, Adam Yates, occupies fourth place in the GC standings, with a deficit of 78 seconds. Frenchman David Gaudu of Groupama-FDJ secured sixth place at Belles Filles, ascending to fifth place in the GC, trailing Pogacar by 91 seconds.
Neilson Powless of EF Education-EasyPost leads the American cyclists in the GC standings, currently occupying eighth place, a mere 97 seconds behind Pogacar. Despite a severe crash on the cobblestones during Stage 5, Primoz Roglic finished third in Stage 7. He currently ranks 13th overall, trailing Pogacar by 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
Following his consecutive stage victories, Pogacar’s odds to win the 2022 Tour de France have seen a significant change, moving from -400 to -450.
Conclusion
The 2022 Tour de France continues to deliver thrilling moments and spectacular performances. Tadej Pogacar’s back-to-back stage wins have solidified his position as a force to be reckoned with. As the race progresses into the challenging mountains, the competition among the GC contenders intensifies. The upcoming stage promises excitement and surprises, with potential opportunities for breakaways and ambitious stage hunters to seize victory. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this enthralling journey through France.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Who won Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France?
To the delight of his fans, Tadej Pogacar emerged victorious in Stage 7.
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How did Jonas Vingegaard perform in Stage 7?
Jonas Vingegaard secured second place in Stage 7 and moved up to second place overall in the GC standings.
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