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Michael “Bling” Matthews was the strongest from a huge breakaway on Saturday, earning his fourth career Tour de France stage win on the Mende airstrip. A gritty ride gave BikeExchange-Jayco its second victory of the 109th edition. In the GC race, yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard and runner-up Tadej Pogačar put a little time into their rivals. Micahel Woods rocketed up the GC by getting in the day’s breakaway.
You can watch the 2022 Tour de France at FloBikes.
The Course
Saturday’s Massif Central fare offered up four Cat. 3 climbs and a Cat. 2 summit finish on a hilly day. The final climb up to the Mende airstrip was nasty: 2.9 km of 10.5 percent. The relentless heat continued.
The steep finish to Mende is back at the #TDF2022 for the hard and hot stage 14! pic.twitter.com/xqkZoHRBoi
— Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (@qst_alphavinyl) July 16, 2022
Immediately after the green flag in Saint-Etienne a huge breakaway containing Michael Woods flared away. Eventually 23 fellows were up front. Neilson Powless was first over the first Cat. 3, Côte de Saint-Just-Malmont, where Pogačar tried to dislodge Vingegaard, and Quinn Simmons was first over Côte de Châtaignier. With 94 km remaining, the fugitives had a 10:00 lead.
On the third Cat. 3, Côte de Grandrieu, Simon Geschke added a couple of points to his King of the Mountains lead. It was at this point, the road still rising, when the escapees started attacking one another. Matthews soloed away but later received three reinforcements. Woods and company were 45 seconds in arrears.
Could the front group grow again on the final Cat. 3, Côte de la Fage? No, and on the long descent to the valley before the summit finish, the foursome became a trio after a fellow suffered a front puncture. One of the riders chasing was Louis Meintjes, the South African who was runner-up on Alpe d’Huez. Thirteenth overnight on GC, he started to threaten the yellow jersey.
You love to see it #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/KwoDgKx8MQ
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) July 16, 2022
Things were coming to a boil in the yellow jersey group as well. First Primoz Roglic dropped away and then eighth place Tom Pidcock slipped back.
With 14 km remaining there was still the possibility of the closest chase group reaching the trio on the Côte de la Croix Neuve finishing climb.
Côte de la Croix Neuve
The steepest section of the final climb was painted…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…
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