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Tour de France debutante Tom Pidcock conquers Alpe d’Huez

Pogačar can't take back time from Vingegaard on iconic climb

July 14, 2022
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Cyclocross world champion Tom Pidcock conquered the iconic Alpe d’Huez climb on Bastille Day, taking a famous win in his Tour de France debut. The triumph also vaulted him up to eighth place in the GC. Chris Froome did well to place third. The GC skirmishing couldn’t match the excitement of Wednesday’s enthralling stage, but Geraint Thomas returned to a podium position. Jonas Vingegaard retained the yellow jersey. Hugo Houle was the top Canadian.

You can watch the 2022 Tour de France at FloBikes.

The Course

Thursday was all about three HC-rated climbs. The second trip up the Col du Galibier in two days was mild in slope compared to Wednesday: 23 km of 5.1 percent. In the middle of the 165.1-km route was the Col de la Croix de Fer, 29.1 km of 5.2 percent, its toughest gradients in the first half. Then came the legendary 21 hairpin turns of Alpe d’Huez, 13.9 km of 7.9 percent. It was another scorching day.

It took a while for the day’s breakaway to form before and at the foot of the Galibier. Eight fellows got loose and Anthony Perez separated himself from the others on the mountain, tipping over just ahead of his breakmates and around 2:00 in front of the Jumbo-Visma-controlled peloton. Froome and Pidcock flared out from the peloton to join the breakaway.

Chris Froome and Tom Pidcock bridging to the peloton on the descent of Galibier.

On the way down Galibier the riders would re-visit the Col de Télégraph, which wasn’t categorized on Thursday. By the peak of the Télégraph, Perez had the company of eight other riders, including the British duo.

Col de la Croix de Fer

The fugitives had a 6:00 lead starting the second HC-rated climb of the day.

An injection of pace from Pidcock split the breakaway on the upper half of the ascent. Jumbo-Visma also sped up, shedding several riders including Michael Woods. Hugo Houle was the last Canadian to be put out the back; he’s still the top Canuck on GC, 43rd after Thursday.

Guilio Ciccone tipped over first and down the riders dropped towards the valley.

The 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez

The crowds were ready for the arrival of the Tour de France. Pidcock, Froome, Ciccone, Neilson Powless and Louis Meintjes started up with a lead of 6:00.

Here we go. Pidcock, Froome and company head on up Alpe d’Huez.

Wout Van Aert pulled the reduced peloton until he almost came to a standstill. Pidcock attacked his breakmates with 10.7 km to go, spreading them all over the slopes. The Brit stayed a few seconds ahead of Meintjes for several kilometres until he began to increase the gap.

Jumbo’s pace kept spitting riders out the back: Vlasov, Gaudu, Quintana. Second-place Romain Bardet fell away. Adam Yates cracked. Sepp Kuss, Vingegaard, Tadej Pogačar, Thomas and Enric Mas remained.

Pogačar attacked with 4 km to go but Vingegaard held his wheel. Thomas returned, as did Kuss. Another Pogačar thrust didn’t dislodge the Dane either. Mas made it back.

Pogačar and Vingegaard on Alpe d’Huez.

Pidcock celebrated over the line. There was no separation between the riders in the yellow jersey gang.

Friday calms the race down with a hilly course.

2022 Tour de France, Stage 12
1) Tom Pidcock (Great Britain/Ineos) 4:55:02
2) Louis Meintjes (South Africa/Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) +0:48
3) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Israel-Premier Tech) +2:06
50) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +19:40
62) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/Groupama-FDJ) +22:38
68) Michael Woods (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +26:15
119) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +32:53

2022 Tour de France GC
1) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Jumbo-Visma) 41:29:59
2) Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia/UAE-Emirates) +2:22
3) Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Ineos) +2:26
43) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +1:11:58
67) Michael Woods (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +1:30:09
96) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/Groupama-FDJ) +2:01:31
142) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +2:36:34