Saint-Émilion (France) (AFP)

A Belgian king of the time trial: Wout van Aert won the second time trial of the Tour de France on Saturday in Saint-Emilion, 24 hours before the announced triumph of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar in Paris.

Eighth in the stage, Pogacar (UAE) did less well than his runner-up in the standings, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo), third in this 20th stage.

The only consequence is that the defending champion has seen his lead shrink to ... 5 min 20 sec, one of the biggest gaps in recent years.

The third place on the podium was secured by the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (at 7:03), the first rider of the powerful Ineos team who dominated the previous decade before recording a severe defeat last year.

The time trial, under a summer sun in the renowned Libournais and Saint-Emilion vineyards, left the order of the top ten in the general classification unchanged.

The main stake revolved around the stage victory, led by the Swiss Stefan Küng (4th) then by the Dane Kasper Asgreen (2nd), finally ahead of 21 seconds by van Aert.

- The eclecticism of van Aert -

The Belgian, one of the candidates for Olympic gold at the next Tokyo Olympics, both in the road race next Saturday and in the subsequent time trial, won for the second time in the Tour.

Proof of his eclecticism, he won the Mont Ventoux stage on July 7 after competing with his great Dutch cyclo-cross rival, Mathieu van der Poel, during the first week.

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"It was faster than the first time, more to my advantage," said van Aert, who finished 4th in Laval on June 30, 30 seconds behind Pogacar.

The Belgian underlined the record of his Jumbo team, which won three stages and placed the Danish revelation, Jonas Vingegaard, in second place on the podium: "We did not come for that but after the fall of Primoz (Roglic) ... "

In three participations, the Belgian champion now has five stages to his name.

Victories acquired in the sprint, in the mountains or now in a time trial.

Which amounts to asking the subject of his possible transformation into a general classification rider since van Aert, who raced in the Pyrenees in the service of Vingegaard, is only 26 years old.

"At this stage of my career, my priority is to win the classics which are still missing from my list", said the Belgian, winner in particular of his first "monument" last year (Milan-Sanremo) and races such as Ghent. -Wevelgem and the Amstel Gold Race in the spring.

- Double blow or record on the Champs-Elysées?

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"However, I will not be the favorite in the Olympic time trial," added van Aert.

"Today, it was mostly flat. In Tokyo, there will be 700 meters of vertical drop. But my victory, especially with this heat, gives me confidence before the Olympics".

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For Pogacar, the day in Bordeaux seemed like a formality, unlike the time trial of La Planche des Belles Filles which had allowed him to dethrone Roglic last year.

The Slovenian, winner of the first time in Laval, this time finished his course 57 seconds behind van Aert.

The 21st and last stage, which is traditionally played in a sprint, is scheduled for Sunday between Chatou, in western Paris, and the Champs-Elysées.

For the Briton Mark Cavendish, who has already won four times since the start, it is an opportunity to overtake the Belgian Eddy Merckx with whom he holds the record for 34 stage victories.

Unless van Aert makes a double blow in front of the Parisian public, admitted only if he presents a sanitary pass.

Asked about his ambitions, the Belgian revealed himself: "Yes, I want to win on the Champs-Elysées!"

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