While we have been seeing Valentin Madouas (Goupama-FDJ) in the tricolore of the French Champion, he is only the road race champion. Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step) is the Time Trial Champion of France. He is also on an incredibly strong ride in the only time trial of this Tour. As he crossed the line Combloux he posted the new best time at thirty five minutes and forty three seconds. That was a time that stood for another two hours of guys coming across the line.. Original Painting
I'm sorry, the title was just too tempting. The UCI Road World Champion, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) and the defending champion of the first Tour de France Femmes, had been raising her arm to call up her team car. It was first suspected that one of her tires were going flat, but that turned out not to be the case. As she rode out of the intermediate sprint town of Hameau de Rastel, apparently, her race radio had failed. Unable to tell the team what was wrong, or to find out information from the team director, she dropped back to get it fix. The mechanic must have been relieved not to have to put his fingers anywhere near the spinning wheels to set things right. With no time outs, and the commissares being rather strict, the mechanic had to do the repair while out the window of the fast moving car. . Original Painting
After bridging up to the lone escapeof Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo) the world champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) turns round to see who had come with her. The answer was Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and others. More on that later. The group quickly built up and advantage on the peloton that contained the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot Vert, and the Maillot a Pois. The Maillot Blanc was looking over at the Rainbow Jersey. I suspect that Van Der Duin was a bit awed to be joined by both Balsamo and Vos. The rider back there from BikeExchange-Jayco never did make it across the divide.. Original Painting