Stage 7: Tadej Two Days In A Row
The yellow jersey wearer and consensus favorite Tadej Pogacar (UAE) steals the win from a valiant breakaway up the fierce climb at La Super Planche des Belles Filles. The outcome looked favorable for Bora-Hansgrohe’s Lennard Kämna, who went solo from the breakaway, lasting until the last 100 meters. An ultra-elite group of favorites caught the breakaway in the final moments. Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) fought it out to the finish, with the two-time Tour de France winner Pogacar making it two stage wins in a row on Stage 7.
Pogacar puts more time into his rivals in the GC battle. Jonas Vingegaard looks like the preferred GC contender for Jumbo Visma – he didn’t win today but his burst after a monster climb was not to be matched by his teammate Primoz Roglic. Simon Geschke (Cofidis) was awarded the Most Combative prize for motoring the bulk of the breakaway’s break up La Super Planche des Belles Filles. Hat tip to Lennard Kämna for a terrific stage, echoing his fine form during the recent Giro d’Italia, but he wasn’t meant to outduel the top GC contenders. Feel Kämna’s pain below.
Magnus Cort Nielsen, profile with hipster mustache. Credit: Annette Kelly.Elsewhere in the race, Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF) retains his polka dot jersey despite not acquiring a single King of the Mountains point. It’s only a matter of time before the big mountains steal the KOM jersey off his shoulders. And the Great American Hope in the GC battle, Neilson Powless raced valiantly, but could not keep pace, slipping from 2nd to 8th in overall time.
