Cycling: The winners and losers of the first week of the tour

After the ninth stage, the Tour de France takes a day off. The mandatory corona tests are not the only things to do on the rest day. Some goals also need to be corrected.

winner

Tadej Pogacar: In the first few days, Tadej Pogacar left no doubt about his dominance. He shone on the cobbles and clinched the yellow jersey a day later. The 23-year-old narrowly missed his hat-trick in Lausanne after winning two stages. The competition can only hope that his team is weak and that Pogacar is vulnerable in the high mountains.

Wout van Aert: The entertainer of the first days of the tour. Wout van Aert was second three times and had the yellow jersey. But without a stage win, the Belgian all-rounder felt dissatisfied. So he attacked on the fourth stage ten kilometers from the finish and drove away from the entire field. After his solo victory in Calais, van Aert also won in Lausanne.

Simon Geschke: He would hardly have thought it possible that the native Berliner would be able to climb onto the big podium of the tour again at the age of 36. With a courageous performance on Sunday, however, Geschke secured the necessary points for the mountain jersey. In 2015 he had already caused a sensation on a Tour mountain stage when he triumphed solo in Pra-Loup.

loser

Primoz Roglic: After two dramas in 2020 and 2021, everything should get better on this tour. But Primoz Roglic reinforced his reputation as a crash pilot and crashed badly on the fifth stage. Although he put his dislocated shoulder back in place himself, he lost two minutes to the top riders and the Tour. In addition, the Slovenian was publicly criticized by Maximilian Schachmann for his risky driving style.

Alexander Vlasow: With rare and very self-confident statements, Alexander Vlasow made people sit up and take notice before the tour. He wants to try to win the race. After just nine stages, this is probably hopeless. A crash on stage six weakened the Russian, who lost over a minute and a half to Pogacar on the first hilltop finish. Also on Sunday Vlasov lost more seconds. The podium in Paris is becoming increasingly unlikely.

Mathieu van der Poel: The Dutch classics specialist had big plans and wanted to wear the yellow jersey for at least one day. But even in the really strong opening time trial, van der Poel complained that his legs were bad. During the course of the first week, the form curve kept tilting southwards, and the 27-year-old played no part in the cobblestone stage. “I’m not myself right now. But I will fight,” said van der Poel.