Half wheel. This is the margin with which the European champion Tim Merlier “burned” Jonathan Milan On the finish line of Châteauroux, or the avenue renamed “Avenue Cavendish” in honor of the British sprinter record holder of partial victories in the “Grande Boucle”. The Belgian then mocked Milan for the second time on this tour, obtaining the 62/a victory of his career and postponing to another occasion the renewed dreams of glory not only of the Giant Friulian but also of Italian cycling, which yesterday, thanks to Milan, had interrupted a fasting of six years. «After yesterday this is a very sweet revenge – Merlier’s words after the winning sprint -, it was a really hard stage, at times there were these fans, it was a delicate situation, however it was a great day. Van der Poel? I also tried to help to recover, the pace was very high, Even Enenepoel worked at the head of the group. Then I went out 200 meters from the finish and managed to win this second stage on the tour ».
Said all this, and that Tadej Pogacar has kept the yellow jersey But he has lost his most precious coequipier, namely Joao Almeida forced to retire for the consequences of the fall on Friday ‘on the Mur-de-Bretagne, it should be emphasized that those who deserved to win today is Mathieu van der Poel. The former world champion was the protagonist of a long escape of the day, practically from the start, together with the Belgian Jonas Rickaert, his teammate in the Alpecin Deceuninck. The two after their attack, and despite pedaling against the contrary, gained two minutes in a few kilometers, then with the complicity of the group that did not react the advantage overcome the five minutes. The Alpecin couple resisted for a long time in what looked like a crazy company but in the last kilometers the thrust of the group was greater than 60 per hour, and the inevitable happened, namely that first Rickaert, “burst” 6 km from the conclusion (he will console himself with the prize at the most combative of the day) and then Van der Poel, who had tried to continue on his own, were resumed, in the case of the Dutch. 700 meters from the arrival. So here is the sprint as per prediction, and Merlier’s success which, as already in Dunkerque, burned Milan. Tomorrow the tenth stage will propose the first real uphill arrival of the tour, which closes the first part of the large French stages race: Ennezat-le Mont Dore (Puy de Sancy), km 165.3, difference in altitude 4450 meters. There will therefore be on the day of the French national party and a crowd of crowd as never before is predictable. This tour deserves it.