Cycling: Michael Matthews has won the 14th stage of the Tour de France. The Australian was part of a 23-man breakaway that broke up on the way to the finish. In the final climb he was able to assert himself against all his companions and finally hold his ground in front of Alberto Bettiol.
Matthews hits back at Bettiol
As expected, the victory of the 14th stage over 192,5 kilometers from Saint-Etienne to Mende went to a lucky breakaway. Michael Matthews (BikeExchange – Jayco) won an exciting duel against Alberto Bettiol (EF Education – EasyPost) prevail on the final climb – the Côte de la Croix Neuve. It was he who split the escape group in half with an attack more than 50 kilometers from the finish. Together with Felix Grossschartner (Bora – hansgrohe) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain – Victorious) he tackled the last climb with a lead of around 30 seconds. He was able to quickly shake off his two companions. But Alberto Bettiol came racing from behind. The Italian left the Australian behind and already looked like a sure winner. But then Michael Matthews hit back again. He fought his way back to the rear wheel and then made the decisive attack. With all his might, he heaved himself over the crest of the Côte de la Croix Neuve to win the stage in Mende.
Vingegaard cannot be shaken off
Even if the final ascent to Mende is only 2,9 kilometers long, with its average incline of 10,5 percent it always offers opportunities to attack the yellow jersey. Tadej pogacar (UAE) and his teammates immediately attacked into the mountain. Only a few hundred meters later he launched his big attack himself. Riding almost exclusively standing up, the Slovenian sprinted up the Côte de la Croix Neuve. But his opponent jonas vingegaard (Jumbo – Visma) just couldn't be shaken off today. The two crossed the finish line in Mende together. david gaudu (Groupama – FDJ), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa – Samsic) lost a few seconds.
Meintjes sniffs the yellow jersey
Believe it or not, 23 drivers formed up today after a long fight to form the top group of the day. Among them were with the German Lennard Kamna and the two Austrians Patrick Conrad and Felix Grossschartner three professionals from the German racing team Bora – hansgrohe. Austria Gregor Muehlberger (Movistar) and the Swiss Stefan Kung (Groupama – FDJ) also made the leap forward. And also Simon Geschke (Cofidis) was there again. The Berliner successfully defended his mountain jersey. Among other things, they were accompanied by world-class athletes, such as Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ), Rigoberto Urán (EF Education – EasyPost), Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Jakob Fuglsang (Israel – Premier Tech). Above all, it was dangerous for the overall standings louis meintjes (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux). Before the start of the stage, the South African was 15th, 46:13 behind. With the breakaway group temporarily ahead by just under 15 minutes, he was virtually not far from the yellow jersey.
Pogacar attacks on the first mountain
Surely many spectators couldn't believe what they saw on the first climb of the day. Tadej pogacar (UAE) actually took part in the first breakaway attempts. Did the Slovenian really think that the Jumbo – Visma team would let him into the escape group? Or did the two-time winner of the Tour de France just want to ensure that his opponent loses important helpers? In the end he succeeded. Primois Roglic (Jumbo – Visma) was now more than two minutes behind the peloton. After everything calmed down and the group of the day was standing, he was able to catch up again. Caleb ewan (Lotto – Soudal), however, did not succeed. The sprinter from Australia is still suffering from the effects of a fall. With the help of three teammates, he struggled to cross the finish line within the grace period.
Almost dancing and visibly happy, Michael Matthews rolls to victory in the stage.#TDF2022 #ARDTour pic.twitter.com/fvOdMFHWTG
— Sportschau (@sportschau) July 16, 2022