“Above all, it’s the way I did it. You can’t even plan something like this. I played everything I got at the first climb. I wanted to grab the bonus seconds because this was the last chance for me to get yellow jersey, and I needed them. When I launched my attack with 800 meters to go, no one followed me, so I kept going. The last 500 meters were really painful, but I knew I had to go full gas in order to win. I didn’t learn that I had taken the yellow jersey until 5 minutes after the finish line. To finish it off like this is incredible. I felt much better today than I did yesterday. Maybe yesterday I was under a bit of stress. Unfortunately, my grandfather [Raymond Poulidor] isn’t here anymore… But imagine if he was here, how proud he would be! I have talked about it many times with my Mum.”
Stage
- Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) in 4h18’30’’
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), at 06”
- Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), at 06”
GC
- Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) in 8h57’25’’
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step), at 08’’
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), at 13’’
