After coming second on every of the primary three phases in Denmark, the Jumbo-Visma man lastly tasted victory when he crossed the end line in Calais eight seconds forward of the fast-closing peloton.
Jumbo-Visma group’s Belgian rider Wout Van Aert celebrates as he cycles previous the end line to win the 4th stage of the 109th version of the Tour de France biking race, 171,5 km between Dunkirk and Calais, in northern France, on 5 July 2022. Picture: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP
CALAIS – Belgian Wout van Aert produced a solo break for the ages to win stage 4 of the Tour de France and prolong his general lead in swashbuckling fashion on Tuesday.
After coming second on every of the primary three phases in Denmark, the Jumbo-Visma man lastly tasted victory when he crossed the end line in Calais eight seconds forward of the fast-closing peloton.
Van Aert’s feat was a uncommon act of brilliance that may reside lengthy in the reminiscence, and makes up for the frustration of his three slender misses.
“It seems almost impossible, the jersey gave me wings,” stated Van Aert.
“But we planned it, both for the GC and the green jersey, there were 50 points today,” stated the general chief who additionally tops the dash standings.
“They say third time lucky, but for me it was the fourth.”
There was nothing fortunate about it.
After 160km dominated by two escapees, Van Aert’s Jumbo group and Adam Yates’ Ineos launched a blistering assault on a brief, steep climb round 10km from house.
Dressed in his luminous yellow outfit as race chief, Van Aert crossed the summit first and alone after a relentless scrap up the incline.
He then powered over the ultimate 8km at speeds as much as 55km/h, waving his arms in mock flight on the end.
“This is an exceptional, a really special moment,” stated Van Aert.
PHILIPSEN RED-FACED
Behind him, Alpecin rider Jasper Philipsen received a bunch dash for second and briefly celebrated believing he had received the stage.
“It’s a shame for Philipsen, we shouldn’t laugh at him,” stated Van Aert.
Philipsen quickly discovered the painful reality.
“I thought I’d won for about five seconds. It’ll look funny watching replays in years to come,” he stated.
“We were quite a way behind on the hill and I didn’t see them get away,” he defined.
“I celebrated and now I feel ashamed.”
Van Aert leads stage one winner Yves Lampaert by 25sec in the general standings, whereas defending champion Tadej Pogacar is third at 32sec.
He additionally retained one of the best younger rider’s white jersey.
“If I could take the yellow tomorrow I wouldn’t say no,” stated the 23-year-old Slovenian who races for Team UAE Emirates.
Jumbo pair Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic are sixth and seventh at 38sec and 40sec respectively.
“I’m looking forwards to helping Primoz and Jonas tomorrow on the cobbles,” Van Aert stated of stage 5.
Ineos trio Yates, Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas lurk only a few seconds behind the Jumbo males.
Dane Magnus Cort Nielsen confirmed his means on the primary day in France after he emerged because the hero of the Danish Grand Depart taking the climb factors jersey.
He once more received a lot of the climbing factors and stays prime of the King of the Mountains standings.
His escape companion, Anthony Perez of Cofidis, outlasted Cort Nielsen throughout the marshes, over the canals and picturesque villages because the peloton closed in and was awarded the prize for the day’s most aggressive journey.
Many followers have been holding up indicators wishing a contented birthday to Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert as he turned 40.
“If you’d told me I’d still be here 10 years ago, I would never have believed it,” stated Gilbert.
Wednesday’s stage is a bone-shaking 157km run from Lille to Arenberg taking in 20km of cobbled mining roads and also will go well with the all-rounder Van Aert.
The stage might be essential for the general standings between the GC contenders.