After fifteen stages, the Tour de France 2022 will enter its last week of competition with a general classification that can still change. The arrival in the Pyrenees is promising with a great show to come. Pogacar and Vingegaard have both lost 2 teammates, the battle will be fierce! Discover the review of the second week of the Tour de France 2022.
The end of the second week with twists and turns
At the start of the Tour de France, Jumbo Visma presented itself as the main rival of Tadej Pogačar. The Dutch team was better equipped than ever to bring the Yellow Jersey back to the Champs-Elysées. They also showed it during the first week with Wout Van Aert's exploits. If Pogačar then managed to regain the leader's tunic, the Slovenian's failure in the Col du Granon benefited Jonas Vingegaard, second in the last Tour de France, to take control. Today, the Dane seems very solid while Pogačar has not being able to let go of him when he attacked.
And Primoz Roglic in all this? The Slovenian also presented himself in Copenhagen with the hope of winning the Tour de France. A hope that quickly evaporated during the cobblestone stage of the Grande Boucle. The Tour has ended for Roglic when he withdrew from the race before stage 15.
The winners: Vinegegaard resists, Van Aert still there, Pogacar's revenge
Jonas Vingegaard resists, but Jumbo-Visma suffers. The top 10 in the general classification has not changed, but Jonas Vingegaard has scared himself in recent days, especially on the roads of the Tarn. The Dane, still leader of the Yellow Jersey classification, fell with his teammate Tiesj Benoot, moments after Steven Kruijswijk found himself on the ground. The Dutchman, a mountain lieutenant, had to leave the Grande Boucle hastily, with pain in the right arm. After the withdrawal of Primoz Roglic before the Pyrenees, the Dutch team loses some great assets.
Wout Van Aert, green suits him perfectly. In the peloton, Van Aert is a great support for his leader. Always present to fight for stage victory in the sprint, the Belgian rider is doing everything he can to score points. He took 15 points this Sunday at the intermediate sprint behind his two former breakaway companions (Honoré, Politt). With 378 points, he is well ahead of Tadej Pogacar (182 points). Jasper Philipsen (176 points) is on the podium after his victory in Carcassonne. Mads Pedersen (158 points) and Fabio Jakobsen (155 points) are fourth and fifth respectively.
Simon Geschke, in defense. The German from Cofidis was serene until then. With 46 points, against 39 for the South African Louis Meintjes and 37 for Neilson Powless, Simon Geschke has not been worried about the polka dot jersey classification yet. With the Pyrenees coming, he'll have a lot of work to defend his precious jersey, as there are more than 110 points to score until the finish in Paris.
Tadej Pogačar, always in white. At the front of the peloton this week, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) has never been endangered by the few crashes that occurred, unlike the Yellow Jersey (Jonas Vingegaard). The Slovenian logically remains in white. Thomas Pidcock is still second in the classification, 6'27'' behind the double winner of the Tour. A huge gap separates these two youngsters from Brandon McNulty (57'43'') and Matteo Jorgenson (58' 42'').
Primož Roglič's withdrawal
Primož Roglič was announced as one of the favorites of the Tour de France. He had already lost big on the cobblestones between Lille and Arenberg but nevertheless continued the Tour de France. But, the Slovenian has shown certain limits, especially in the high mountains. It must be said that the Jumbo Visma rider had never completely recovered. He then became a perfect teammate for Jonas Vingegaard to help him take over the Yellow Jersey.
Jonas Vingegaard is therefore still leading the general classification thanks to great teamwork. However, Tadej Pogaçar's attacks were numerous but Jumbo Visma controlled the race. Roglic decided to stop by abandoning the Tour de France 2022 this Sunday before stage 15 between Rodez and Carcassonne. “I stop there to allow my wounds to heal. I am proud of my participation in the general classification and I have confidence in my team to achieve our ambitions for the yellow jersey and the green jersey,” explained Primoz Roglic, reported by L’Equipe. It will be a lot harder to keep Pogacar in sight with Kruisjwijk and Roglic gone, Jumbo-Visma is facing a tough challlenge.
The French: Romain Bardet and David Gaudu hope for the podium
It will not be easy to dislodge Geraint Thomas (Ineos; 3rd at 2'43 '' from Jonas Vingegaard) but Romain Bardet is not losing hope. The Auvergnat (DSM), brilliant on the Granon (3rd), suffered at L'Alpe d'Huez but remained in the race. 4th at 18'' from the podium. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), 5th on stage 11 and 13th at L'Alpe d'Huez is in 8th place overall.
The French want stage wins. Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) gave shivers to the local fans on Sunday in the streets of Carcassonne, before being swallowed up with 400m to go by the sprinters. The French are still waiting for a stage win. Only the 1926 and 1999 Tours ended without a French stage victory.
A tough battle between tired riders
The road continues to rise. Organisms are weakened. The gaps can be turned upside down on the eve of the arrival in the Pyrenees. This second week has hurt the riders with a very hilly course and hot weather. But everything can be restarted after a well-deserved rest day. One thing is certain: attacks will be all over the place and the race is far from being over!
