Wout Van Aert earns second stage triumph as Tour de France visits Switzerland

Wout Van Aert was the fastest from a reduced peloton on an uphill finish as the Tour de France made an excursion into Switzerland for the 27th time on Saturday. Van Aert padded his points competition lead with his second stage win of the 109th edition. Yellow jersey-clad Tadej Pogačar was third place and Michael Woods placed 17th.

At the end, the stage finished with a sprint within a reduced group with @rusty_woods as best IPT rider on the day.

Tomorrow, we fight again! 👊
____
🇫🇷 #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/966Qj0ttoZ

— Israel – Premier Tech / Israel Cycling Academy (@IsraelPremTech) July 9, 2022

You can watch the 2022 Tour de France at FloBikes.

The Course

Saturday’s fare was two Cat. 3 and two Cat. 4 ascents spread evenly over 186.3 km. The last 72 or so kilometres were set in Switzerland. The final two-step climb to Lausanne was 4.9 km of 4.5 percent.

We go to Switzerland today, the fourth country visited by #TDF2022 this year.

The profile is a hilly one and the chances for a breakaway to hold off the peloton are quite big. pic.twitter.com/zuLfXwxGCd

— Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (@qst_alphavinyl) July 9, 2022

After a couple of failed breakaways, a trio bounced clear and its chances of staying away were aided by a crash in the field that delayed the yellow jersey and several favourites. While riders visited the medical car and changed bikes, the three riders–Fred Wright, Mattia Cattaneo and Fredrick Frison–rolled up a 3:00 gap.

The breakaway of @cattamat is looking good.

Together with Frederik Frison and Fred Wright, he opened a three-minute advantage with 150 kilometers to go.

Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/rHG3Fn7OBa

— Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (@qst_alphavinyl) July 9, 2022

When the race entered Switzerland, the trio’s gap was a mere 1:15.

There was a long downhill after the penultimate categorized climb Col de Pétra Félix. The breakaway was now a duo.

Thibaut Pinot suffered a crash and then took a Trek-Segafredo soigneur’s hand to the face as the swannie tried to give a musette to Mads Pedersen.

Jumbo-Visma and BikeExchange-Jayco powered the pursuit to the foot of the final climb. Ineos and EF Education joined in. Fred Wright was the last escapee standing.

Wright’s advantage was only 17 seconds as he started up Côte du Stade Olympique. Pogačar was Position 2 when the road kicked up. Finally Wright came to heel with 3.5 km to ride.

Patrick Konrad…