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July 17, 2021 Prediction respected.
Wout Van Aert was the favorite of this time trial of about thirty kilometers of running, skimming vineyards that are Unesco heritage which, in practice, closed the Tour de France, and in fact won.
But, of course, also smiles Tadej Pogacar who, at the age of 23, finished eighth today and can already celebrate his second personal triumph in the most important stage race of the cycling calendar, which will end tomorrow on the Parisian Champs-Elysees.
It was therefore the day of the rulers. By Van Aert, already winner on the Ventoux, who had no rivals in this time trial (in second place the Danish Kasper Asgreen, 21 "behind, and third the other Danish Jonas Vingegaard at 32") and by Pogacar who of this Tour he has been the great protagonist since the beginning, sparking comparisons with the great ones of the past. And also provoking backbiting, which he never gave weight to, also because cycling for him continues to be above all fun, and perhaps this is precisely his secret. Tomorrow he will celebrate on the top step of the podium, on which Vingegaard and Carapaz will also climb, second and third respectively, given that today's time trial at the level of the top ten positions hasn't changed anything.
As for Van Aert, he will now fly to Japan with the completely hidden intention of winning Olympic gold in the Tokyo 2020 road test. For Vincenzo Nibali, who on Japanese roads wants to make up for the bitter disappointment of Rio 2016 ( fell when he seemed destined for victory), the Belgian will be a very bad customer.
Tomorrow 21 / a and last stage, the right opportunity for Mark Cavendish to try to impose himself in the sprint and, in doing so, break the record for partial victories in the "Grand Boucle", improving the record of 34 that he now holds together with Cannibal Eddy Merckx .