the Australian simon clarke (Israel Premier Tech) at the age of 35 achieved a prestigious victory in the fifth stage of the Tour, between Lille and Arenberg, of 153.7 km, “the cobblestone stage of the Roubaix”, in which Wout Van Aert saved the yellow jersey in extremis and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar He sent out a serious warning, knocking out Roglic and keeping his distance from the rest of his direct rivals in the general classification.
The fault was the cobblestones on this occasion. The battle on the cobblestones was foreseen and it had serious consequences. On the one hand, an unforgettable day for the veteran simon clarkeinexhaustible globetrotter of cycling who had no team this winter, who made up for the day trip with victory in the mining town of Wallers, where he raised his arms in a sprint to four for the Dutchman Taco Van der Hoorn (Intermarché), from Norwegian Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) and the US Neilson Powless (EFEducation).
NEW POGACAR NOTICE; ROGLIC ALMOST LIMITED
Tadej Pogacar again sent a message to the sailors with the best performances among the candidates for the general classification. Powerful on the cobbles and ambitious, the Slovenian came in 51 seconds behind the winner in the company of Belgian Stuyven. Behind, desperate in pursuit, the rest, trying not to lose even the last name.
In the end, quite a few men overall got it, as they lost just 13 seconds compared to Pogacar runners like Vingegaard, Van Aert, and came close to saving the yellow, Nairo Quintana, Enric Mas or Rigoberto Urán. The big loser after a fall that drove him out, Primoz Roglic, who crossed the line 2.08 behind his compatriot.
The most anticipated day of the first week didn’t leave the Tour decidedly, but Pogacar sent a power message that was easy to interpret. He has no rival and strengthens his fitness as maximum favorite in the pavés. Van Aert kept the yellow card, 13 seconds ahead of Powless and Boasson Hagen. But the real leader is Pogacar, fourth to 19.
Vingegaard is 21 seconds away from the Komenda runner, Yates 29, Geraint Thomas 31, Vlasov 42, Daniel Martìnez 50, Nairo Quintana 55 and Spain’s Enric Mas 1.02. Primoz Roglic is at 2.17.
“Very happy with the stage. We avoided crashes, I was cut off, but between Jumbo and us we closed the gap. I lost 13 seconds with Pogacar, which is little with what could have happened,” said the Movistar- leader. †
AN ESCAPE ILLUMINATING ARRIVAL ON THE COBBLE
The famous stage of the 11 cobblestone sections which involved a total of 20 km of rattling concentrated in the last 73 km of the race, had aroused respect and even fear, a topic of discussion and concern since the Tour’s route was presented on October 14.
A day “pavé” examines the coordination of a team at all levels, tactically and in relation to the material to be used. Mechanics take on a primary role. It’s a different stage and the bike is going through a lot of changes compared to the usual one. The fork and handlebars vary, the frame of the flat stages is kept, each rider has a different pressure in their wheels, where the tubes go from 25 millimeters to 29.
They are bills for “the day Roubaix”. Even the bottle cage changes, for jogging on the cobblestones the plastic bottle is used and the carbon is omitted, and the development of, for example, Enric Mas, who had four bikes at his disposal, was a 52-39, with a 10 pinion to 30.
The breakout was soon formed with 6 brave men who achieved the feat of competing among themselves for glory. Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché), Magnus Cort, Neilson Powless (EF EducatioN), Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies), Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) and Gougeard (B&B Hotels) went to the mining area of Arenberg in search of gold.
As the heroes made their way, events took place. It crashed before the cobbled Van Aert stages and then nearly swallowed the DSM car. Bad omen, although it looked like the Jumbo would burst the race as soon as the “pavé” started.
The Roubaix scenario poses several problems. The first traps and mechanical failures arose. While the leading group held onto the type in sector 7 (Auberchicourt to Émerchicourt, 1.3 km), an acceleration by German giant Nils Politt (Bora Hansgrohe) caused extensive damage.
The change of pace struck Van Aert himself, Enric Mas, Lampaert, Pinot, together with a flat tire from Vingegaard that took him away from the front. The Dane changed bikes up to 3 times. None of them were her size and she could barely sit in the saddle. Pogacar, more alert and stronger, went to the head of the main group and lay in wait.
ROGLIC TO THE GROUND, POGACAR SPEED UP AND OPEN THE ROAD
At 32 kilometers from the finish, Primoz Roglic crashed into the tarmac when she tripped over a safety straw that entered the road after being touched by another runner. Pogacar smelled blood and sprang into action, supported first by German giant Nils Politt and then by Belgian classicist Jasper Stuyven, who attacked in sector 3.
With Pogacar and Stuyven chasing the escape, the Jumbo was left in two. Van Aert dragged with 2 teammates Vingegaard, which Mas, Quintana, Thomas and company took advantage of, and further back by 2 other men who tried to save Roglic’s furniture, who had been losing for minutes. Critical situation for the three-time winner of the Vuelta.
CLARKE JOINS THE PARTY; TO OLD AGE, VICTORIES
At the finish it was already a matter of assessing the damage. In the escape there was cooperation till the end, the brave of the day arrived at Arenberg to break stone, and they found not coal, like the miners of old, but pure gold, especially Simon Clarke, who at the last moment passed through Israel. was saved. The Australian cyclist, winner of 2 stages in the Vuelta, raised his arms at 3:13:35. His seventh professional victory.
From behind, chronometers in hand. Ultimately, Van Aert’s invaluable work has prevented an absolute disaster for the Jumbo men. He saved Vingegaard, Roglic, impossible. DELETED. Pogacar, for his part, celebrated “a good day with a good feeling on the cobblestones.
An injection of confidence on a day when he proved to be the best and took advantage of it. Now the Slovenian is starting to think about the mountain. He stood out in the time trial and on the cobblestones. Well on the way to the third Tour in a row.
This Thursday, the sixth stage will be held, between Binche (Belgium) and Longwy, a long day of 220 km that can provide some surprises after hitting the cobblestones. Sprinters and adventurers have their options.
Source: El heraldo
Jason Jack is an experienced technology journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in computer science and engineering, he has a deep understanding of the latest technology trends and developments. He writes about a wide range of technology topics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development, and cybersecurity.
