The reserve of cycling gods opens its doors to a new member: Annemiek Van Vleuten. After giving a mythical recital on the ramps of the Ballon d’Alsace to explode the Tour, the Dutch closed the gala round with another magic stamp. He who triumphs alone, dressed in yellow and on the highest peak important carrera: the Planche des Belles Filles.
And the one who closes it, because Van Vleuten, who already had the Tour in hand, is proclaimed champion with full law. Survive physical and mechanical problems and rivals of all kinds. Be the best, the most offensive and write golden chapters with a Movistar that goes (even more) into history. They are champions for boys and girls in all major stage races. And with Van Vleuten, they get this sumptuous Giro-Tour double.
Van Vleuten survives trouble
A Movistar that dreamed of its leader in yellow. In jersey, helmet and bike. It was the holidays. But it wasn’t easy, it’s not going well with the Women’s Tour de France. A leak opened the hostilities and he entered the Colombian Patio to score in favor of the Dutch. Although the main Spanish color of this escapade was marked by Mavi García, ambitious in the face of victory and securing her top 10.
It was not easy for Van Vleuten, we said. Because this party in yellow could have turned into several breakdowns with his bike. Parones and forced to ‘warm up’ to enter the group. In one of the breakdowns, Trek and SD Worx strained the group. Van Vleuten was not nervous and entered the ramps of the Ballon d’Alsace.
Don’t say Lap, say Race the Ball has changed. Because on the ramps where Van Vleuten butchered in the penultimate battle, there would still be some. Mavi pulls away and Vollering, second overall, tests the favorites. Van Vleuten went about his business. Calm.
An exhibition at La Planche
Anytime and anywhere, like the approach to La Planche, where Vollering was looking to stretch. Already on its ramps, Mavi García was looking for the heroic, but the group did not allow parties. The Rooijkakkers started, they got close to the breakaways and Van Vleuten saw the moment. Patio set the tone and the yellow jersey slipped away from the group.
More than five kilometers remained. La Planche, experienced with the boys, is not a port that allows long walks, but Van Vleuten was in another world. The others did not give in, both the second Vollering and the group in which Niewiadoma and Labous fought to close the podium at the top of the Women’s Tour.
Van Vleuten gave a recital to close his Tour de France. Sending the rest to more than half a minute (Vollering and Niewiadoma close the podium), and without suffering in the exaggerated final slope of the port in which the boys Vingegaard and Pogacar fought until the last meters. Here is another stamp, Imperial Van Vleuten at 20%.
Arms raised, yellow entering alone… Image that Fausto Coppi or Eddy Merckx signed (How many are there already?) and Van Vleuten was proclaimed Tour champion with another heavenly performance. The best in the world, candidate for the best in history and queen of everything in 2022. The Tour reborn is yours.