The Tour is won by seconds or minutes, but also by moral blows, small partial victories that herald days of future glory. On the day of the 95th anniversary of Federico Martín Bahamontes, winner in that black and white Puy de Dôme in 1959, on the same stage where the echoes of the motorcycles that escorted Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor in 1964 must still resound, this time the protagonists were a Dane and a Slovenian. And they did not detract in the least. Cycling is constantly reinventing itself and the champions of the present take over from those of the past.
Vingegaard, once again, had to give in to Pogacar. It was barely 8 seconds, because the leader’s defense was worthwhile, but now they leave the gap in the overall reduced to 17 and place a billboard announcing the coming throbbing days in all corners of France. What a terrible climb is the Puy de Dôme! What a pity that it has been closed for 35 years and that great champions like Indurain, Pantani or Contador did not have to face this volcanic colossus. In any case, what a fantastic battle the two protagonists of this exciting face to face of the Tour 2023 unfold.
Once again Vingegaard’s escort exhibited superiority, even Ineos with the excellent Carlos Rodríguez showed more potential than UAE, but Pogacar, for the moment, does not miss anyone. He has the experience and the strength to dismantle his rival.
When in 1964 Poulidor finally managed to drop Anquetil on the final ramps of the Puy de Dôme, he achieved a haul of 42 seconds. But he stayed 14 off the lead. That was the information that Anquetil asked for just after crossing the finish line: “How much?” And his director, Geminiani, replied: “You still have 14 seconds on Raymond.” Then Anquetil smiled and released the response of the champions: “14? I have 13 to spare. It is very doubtful that in the current situation Vingegaard can say, or even think, that he has 16 seconds to spare.
