Key events:
140km to go. The front group of about 10 now has a 20-second gap on its chasing group, headed by Van Aert, and the peleton’s around a minute behind the front. Michael Woods is getting patched up from his team car at the back of the pack on those nasty looking back gashes.
146km to go. We have a bit of movement at the front with a group including Sanchez, Goossens, Pinot, Berguil, Kämna and Uran breaking clear. A gap of around 35 seconds is established from the peloton, which is collectively taking it easy at this point. There’s 10km to go to the sprint, and the tireless Van Aert is readying himself near the front of the chasing group
148km to go. Still no substantive break as they pass Charlie Chaplin world now, which prompts a diverting riff in the Eurosport commentary box about his life, his flight to Switzerland from McCarthyism etc – one of the joys of the race, this sort of stuff. Off the back of the peloton, Mathieu van der Poel and Peter Sagan are struggling. Astana’s riders labouring too.
155km to go. We now have a little group out front and some positive intent from Ineos – Jonathan Castroviejo goes with Dylan Van Baarle and Io Izagirre of Cofidis at the head of the course, as we pass through Chexbres, Castroviejo picking up a King of the Mountains point in the process.
159km to go. We’re nearing the first climb, the Cote de Bellevue, and still awaiting a serious break – there’s a sizeable group just ahead of the peloton but nothing decisive.
And here’s where they’re headed
169km to go. News of some more withdrawals – Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) is out with Covid, while Kasper Asgreen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl), has a knee injury and Ruben Guerreiro (EF Eduaction-Easypost) is ill. And Tony Gallapin has gone down in a crash of at least three bikes towards the back of the peloton. Michael Woods also appears to have come away from it with a nasty gash on his back. We await a serious breakaway ahead of the climbs; if we don’t get one this could get tasty, with Pederson having been reeled in.
179km to go. They’re under way, and passing Lake Geneva. No major moves as yet, but Mads Pedersen has hit the front. Florian Senechal, on his birthday no less, is prominent too
Preamble
Morning everyone. So talk that this year’s Tour was heading for another stroll for Tadej Pogacar stalled somewhat yesterday when the defending champion and race leader lost a key teammate, Vegard Stake Laengen, to Covid and Wout van Aert continued his impressive form to snatch the stage win in Lausanne yesterday. The Belgian has shown this year that he’s a rider for one-day races and individual stages but don’t bet against him remaining a significant figure for the duration of this year’s Tour. Ineos are well placed too, with four riders in the top 10 in the overall standings.
Today we’re heading for the Alps, with two first-category climbs on the 193km stage from Aigle to Châtel and Col de la Croix the highest of them at 1,778m. Breakaways haven’t been that successful this year but today could be a race where early breakers are rewarded. It’s a hot one in Aigle, the temperature in the late 20s this morning, and a demanding day beckons.
Here’s the GC standings:
1 T Pogacar (28hr 56min 16sec),
2 J Vingegaard (+39sec)
3 G Thomas (+1:14)
4 A Yates (+1:22)
5 D Gaudu (+1:35)
6 R Bardet (+1:36)
7 T Pidcock (+1:39)
8 N Powless (+1:41)
9 E Mas (1:47)
10 D Martinez (+1:59)