Stage 11 TDF 2022 Blog: Jumbo Visma & the Old One-Two
Well, there was enough action on Stage 11 for three days of racing.
The key to it was Jumbo Visma’s tactics on the Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier. It started at the summit of the Télégraphe with an attack by Christophe Laporte and Primoz Roglic, which Pogacar had to mark himself.
Thereafter, it was one-two tactics: Vingegaard attacked, and Pogacar sprinted to catch him; then Roglic attacked and Pogacar sprinted to catch him; then Vingegaard attacked…and so on.
It was incredible to see. Jumbo Visma had a bold plan, and they carried it out. Credit to Roglic for putting personal interests and ego aside, and being all in for the team.
UAE’s Covid problems, and their lack of numbers due to riders who had abandoned, caught up with them, as did Pogacar’s racing style and apparent belief in his own invincibility. He does get tired and you can wear him down, but it isn’t clear that he is aware of these facts. Covering every attack was the wrong tactic, and he should have stuck like glue to Vingegaard and let Roglic go.
Wout van Aert was in the break, and over the top of the Galibier he waited for Roglic, who had been distanced at that point. Van Aert brought Roglic back to the yellow jersey group. Majka also came back.
On the final climb, the Col du Granon, Nairo made a slow-motion attack while Rafal Majka set a steady pace at the front of the yellow jersey group. Romain Bardet was the next to get away.
With 4.6km left, Jonas Vingegaard attacked and Majka tried to cover the move. Pogacar couldn’t even stay on Majka’s wheel. As David Millar said in commentary, Pogacar had completely blown. Geraint Thomas stayed with him for a while, then forged ahead. David Gaudu and Adam Yates also passed Pogacar.
Vingegaard passed Bardet then Nairo, and won the stage by 59s from Nairo Quintana. The top ten was:
- Vingegaard
- Quintana +59s
- Bardet +1min10
- Thomas +1min38
- Gaudu +2min04
- Yates +2min10
- Pogacar +2min51
- Lutsenko +3min38
- Kruijswijk +3min59
- Barguil + 4min16
In the GC, Vingegaard leads Bardet by 2min16, with Pogacar at 2min22 and Thomas at 2min26.
This is 100% speculation on my part, but we know that Pogacar’s teammate George Bennett caught Covid and went home. Rafal Majka has Covid, but with a low viral load he is allowed to stay in the race. Is it likely that Pogacar also has Covid? It is worth noting that Pogacar congratulated Vingegaard on his win, and shook the Dane’s hand.