From the start in Albertville, several riders wanted to be in the breakaway of the day. Eventually two riders succeeded and were able to ride in front for a long time. In the Rhône valley, the peloton prepared for a final with a chance of echelons. Team Jumbo-Visma rode attentively in front all day to keep Vingegaard and Van Aert out of the wind.

In the last twenty kilometres echelons were set up, partly due to the initiative of the yellow-black formation. The peloton tore into pieces, but that could not prevent a bunch sprint. Thanks to Mike Teunissen, Van Aert was perfectly positioned and subsequently rode a strong sprint. Only Cavendish turned out to be a fraction faster.

“It was a hectic, but fun final”, said Van Aert. “I could come from the slipstream of Cavendish, but when I came into the wind I couldn’t make up the difference. I don’t have any excuses: he was just faster today. I was in the place where every sprinter wants to be in this Tour and I have to thank Mike for that. He did a great job in dropping me off. This is motivating to make something of it in the coming stages. Tomorrow I will help Jonas again and I hope to see a lot of Belgian supporters on the Mont Ventoux.”

The Belgian champion also looked back on the formation of echelons in the final. “It was announced, but the wind blew a little differently in the end. Normally any calamities would mainly occur in the last ten kilometres, but now it went really fast in the peloton. Mike, Jonas, Tony and I were well in front. I had hoped there would have been a little more havoc with the wind, then maybe a few more fast guys would have been released. Still, I look back on a good and entertaining day.”

Vingegaard goes into stage 11 as number four in the general classification, with the double ascent of Mont Ventoux. “It was a hectic final, but the team supported me very well. I never really got into trouble and that really does me good. I like to fight for the classification. That suits me. I am looking forward to the Ventoux. Hopefully I have good climbing legs.”