Before A LeadOut indulges you into the Tour de France 2022 Stage 5 preview and predictions, one of the most anticipated one, let us have some thoughts for one of the most dominant performances we have seen for a long time.
Wout a man! Everybody was expecting attacks on the final climb of the day, everybody was on the guard, and still Team Jumbo Visma and Wout Van Aert went off. Pogacar was not well placed, Van der Poel nowhere to be seen and even Roglic had to sit down to his team-mate effort. After showing glimpse of being able to follow, Adam Yates eventually raised the white flag with just a few meters from the crest. Wout Van Aert managed to use a 21 seconds gap over 10 km to resist a diminished but charging peloton and after 3 consecutive second place, finally took his first win of this year’s tour.
Stage 5 preview and predictions
While the debate as to whether they should be included in a Tour de France goes on, Les Paves are back for this year’s edition and the Tour de France – stage 5 preview and predictions is here:
Stage profile
The action kicks off after 80 km of racing de Villers-au-Tertre à Fressain, the first of the 11 cobblestones sectors in the last 75km.
The Paves sectors are as follows with the last one, D’Hanson a Wellers, a 1600m effort, which ends with 5 km to go to finishing line.
The main objective of all riders would be to stay safe on their bikes. The Grand contenders will also be hoping to lose the minimum time, by avoiding mechanical issues. Were these to happen, they will be hoping to have their team-mates to help them out.
This significantly reduces the number of serious contenders to a stage win. Team Jumbo-Visma have confirmed that their prime target would be to support Roglic and Vingegaard. As such it is very unlikely that we will see any of potential stage winner Tiej Benoot, Christophe Laporte or even Wout Van Aert be given green light. The same situation might arise with Stefan Kung and Oliver Naesen who will be on duty for David Gaudu and Ben O’Connor respectively.
Matej Mohoric who finished 5th of Paris-Roubaix 2022 will probably be allowed the first of many shot he has at a stage win. Ineos Grenadiers will also be hoping for a stage win with this year’s Paris-Roubaix winner, Dylan Van Baarle. Tom Pidcock and Filippo Ganna could be serious alternative while keeping some riders to protect Adam Yates, Gerraint Thomas and Dani Martinez.
Team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl is the first among a series of team that will be using multiple cards to win this stage. This year’s first maillot jaune, Yves Lampaert loves the cobbles and could try to snatch his second win. If this does not work out, his team still have Kasper Asgreen, Mikael Honore, and Florian Senechal.
Yet, victory is not assured for the wolf-pack as there are two other Belgian teams with multiple weapons as well. Intermarche Wanty Goubert could seriously hit from lot of places: Alexander Kristoff and Andrea Pasqualon could round off a reduced sprint. Adrien Petit, George Zimmermann and Taco Vander Hoorn are all classic riders who perform excellently on cobbles.
Alepcin-Deceuninck will hoping to send the likes of Micheal Gogl or Baptiste Planckert so not to have to lead the chase for Jasper Philipsen who certainly has the ability to stick to the best on cobbles and use his speed in a sprint. The ultimate weapon remains Mathieu Van der Poel. bar, the opening time trial, he has looked on some energy saving mode and we all know, once he gets started, many will cry for mercy.
Impressively, a fourth Belgian team also sets itself up as a serious contender. Lotto Soudal could spring any of Phillipe Gilbert, Andreas Kron, Tim Wellens or Florian Vermeesch.
The closest team to be able to challenge the Belgiansn is Trek-Segafredo, after fruitlessly leading out Mads Pedersen in the last 3 stages, Jasper Stuyven will have his own chance as will young American gravel riders, Quinn Simmons. Mads Pedersen will also look for chances of his own.
Finally, Peter Sagan has been looking better than we initially thought and who knows?
Predictions:
★★★★☆ Mathieu Van der Poel
This is his terrain and unlike Paris- Roubaix, everybody will not be relying on him to make the race or lead the chase.
★★★☆☆ Jasper Philipsen
Compared to Paris- Roubaix , this less difficult parcours could actually favor a sprint finish. The Belgian would love to quickly erase the disappointment of the eve
★★☆☆☆ Jasper Stuyven
The chocolate man and cobbles are made for each other and he will love to seize one of the rare chances he will given.
★☆☆☆☆ Christophe Laporte
Surely, was it to come to a sprint, Wout Van Aert will leading him out
You watch this mouth-watering stage which will be full of drama right from the start with us. It all starts at 13:25 France Local time. Click on either of the link and enjoy freely:
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