The 8th stage of the Tour de France 2022, Saturday July 9, saw the Belgian Wout can Aert win the sprint in Lausanne (Switzerland). This is his second victory in this Grande Boucle. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, third in the stage, has consolidated his yellow jersey.
Yellow jersey four days in this Tour de France before the takeover of the favorite Tadej Pogacar, Wout van Aert regained its shine on Saturday, during the 8th stage between Dole (Jura) and Lausanne, Switzerland. At the end of the 186.3 kilometers of this rugged stage, the Belgian was able to inflate his chest and spread his arms as a sign of victory. Full of power, he came up the Australian Michael Matthews to cut the line first.
The Jumbo-Visma sprinter, winner of the 4th stage in Calais, is now strong with 8 stage victories in four participations in the Tour de France. Wout van Aert showed that he still had his say in this 109th edition. His performance of the day commands respect: the strongest won, and the green jersey remains on his shoulders. But in the general classification, the situation has not changed: Tadej Pogacar, the double defending champion, remains on top.
The Slovenian was present in the final sprint, and he took third place. After two consecutive stage victories, he gave up first place on the day’s podium. Nothing prohibitive however for the UAE Emirates rider, who is taking advantage of this stage to consolidate his yellow jersey. He pocketed four bonus seconds, which now allow him to have a 39-second lead in the general classification over Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).
A massive crash disrupted the start of the race, including several major runners. The peloton slowed down to allow the latecomers to come back. Thibaut Pinot, he was not forced to retire like the American Kevin Vermaerke (at the origin of the fall) or the Italian Gianni Moscon. But the Frenchman from Groupama-FDJ was not very lucky: after a first minor fall on a climb, he received an involuntary “slap” from a team assistant who was handing a bag to the riders.
Sunday July 10, place at the 9th stage and in the Alps. It will be the second in the high mountains, between Aigle and the Portes du Soleil.