MONSIEUR GREEN JERSEY

TDF 2020, Stage 7 Millau – Lavaur 168 km

Crosswinds ravage sprint field as Van Aert wins reduced bunch sprint. Pogacar, Landa, other minor GC hopefuls lose 1:20.

DENVER, CO – He woke up this morning as fresh as possible after six days of racing on the Tour de France. Perhaps he did some stretching, had breakfast, and looked at the Roadbook. He probably discussed with his sports directors. Perhaps they had the team meeting before they left the hotel. Or perhaps it was on the bus ride over to the stage start, or upon arrival at the start village. Anyways, surely the plan was formed and it was time to prepare. A proper warm up would be needed today. Luckily, he was mentally sharp and confident. Dear Readers, I do not yet know what he said or thought this day, but allow me to take some liberties in this piece. Most likely I will not be as eloquently spoken as him, but allow me to try my best to replay his possible thoughts and sayings from this day.

Surely as he put on his drab standard team-issued uniform, such things as these must have been running through his mind. “It is Stage 7 of the Tour de France and I am not yet in MY proper jersey. I get paid too many Euros to not win this competition. Now they are saying I am off my best. I am getting older. Some even call me tubby. They say I look like a shadow of my former self. And sure, perhaps my lockdown did not go particularly well. As I famously announced, I am not a virtual cyclist. Turbo training is not my strong suit. I am a real cyclist. I need the wind in my ears. I need to corner the bike at exhilarating speeds. I need the flowing descents and to see the kilometers pass beneath my wheels. I need to have the bike rock back and forth as I sprint out of the saddle. I have not raced enough and even in this shortened season I have more objectives. My top form will come. Even Paris is still far away. But today…..O! I will not let this day pass without taking my shot. Without playing my hand. Yes, yes, today we will try something. I shall remind them all that I am still Peter Sagan [of Bora-Hansgrohe], I am Monsieur Green Jersey, and today I shall take back what is mine.”

The flag dropped. The stage was begun heading straight into the Category 3 climb of the Cote de Luzencon. Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R) wearing the Polka-dot Jersey of the King of the Mountains attacked immediately to nab the first points available for the day. The land was exposed, it was harsh terrain for beautiful France. There was wind. In such conditions cyclists are instinctively on their toes, on edge. Why, the climbers all look like animals of prey who knows the predator lurks. Meanwhile other riders, particularly the battle-hardened veterans of the Northern Classics lick their lips. The wind was swirling, the direction seemed right. Peter Sagan, now a veteran of the peloton and a leader of men, studied the winds like a legendary mariner or a decorated admiral out at sea. “Gentlemen,” Sagan may have said to his Bora teammates, “now is the time. Let us begin the endeavor. Forward! To the front of peloton.” The entire Bora team massed to the front of the peloton as the climb was beginning. They set a ferocious pace. The peloton was completely strung out, the wounded and the weaker climbers at the very back. The Bora team drilled it so hard, why, they caught Cosnefroy at the top of the climb forcing the Polka Dots to sprint for his King of the Mountain Points.

There were many wounded already, mostly still from Thor’s devastation on Stage 1. But who are the weaker climbers? Yes, dear Readers you know: the sprinters. One by one they dropped out the back of the peloton. Nizzolo (NTT) in his European Champion’s jersey was gone. Pederson (Trek-Segafredo) in the Rainbows, champion of the World, was out the back. Spritely Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), the Pocket-Rocket of Stage 3 fame, could not handle the pace. Other big framed classics riders were with them. Then went Cees Bol (Sunweb) who was second only to Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) on Stage 5. Down went Alexander Kristoff (UAE), Thor’s favorite son. And the veteran Andre Griepel (Israel Start-up Nation) was out the back too. “Keep going lads!” Sagan possibly said to his Bora infantrymen on the front. “We have them on the ropes. To the sword! Put them all to the sword! Why, these organizers and these sprinters: they think pure speed should be able to win them the Points Competition. No! To win Green you must be a complete rider, you must be able to climb and descent as well as sprint. Take it from me, I am Monsieur Green Jersey: seven times the winner of the Points competition, seven times I have worn Green on the Champs-Elysees!”

To hear the names of such fast men out the back was good news to the Bora team, but where was the certain quick man who they were most concerned about? Sam Bennett (Deceuninck – Quickstep), the champion of Ireland, wore not the Irish Jersey today because he was the man leading the Points competition, he was the man wearing the Green Jersey! Surely, the man most in Sagan’s crosshairs today. Thus the Bora troops were still on the front charging down the road like a cavalry, for them the battle was just beginning. Groups off the back were forming, and look at that, they rode in echelons! Surely the wind was blowing across from the left. To the right-hand side of someone was where the protection from the wind was now; riding directly behind someone would not provide the usual draft, it would only allow the crosswind to flow between their wheels and rip open a gap between them. Already strung out and gassed on the climb, many of the sprinters and weak climbers were now in double trouble as they clamored to make new friends who were willing to work together. From the helicopter the groups behind rode across the road with large gaps in between: on the straight vertical road, the groups looked like almost horizontal rungs on a ladder riding in parallel formation, an echelon the French would say. Still the GC men and their top lieutenants massed in a large front group behind Bora, but Sam Bennett was not there any longer. He was one group behind, closing back in to rejoin the Bora led peloton. Only 50 more meters to close now, Bennett had avoided the danger, we looked at him, as he gave a thumbs up to the camera. Only 10 meters now and Bennett’s group would have safely returned.

But wait, wait! They rode into exposed lands again. And the crosswinds returned! No! A gap formed again! In an instant, it was 50 meters, a whole 100 meters again. My, O! My, Sam Bennett, Oliver Naesan (AG2R), Luke Rowe (Ineos Grenadiers), Daryl Impey (Michelton-Scott), and you others caught out: you should have known better to make sure the job was finished off properly before easing up. Back into echelon formation they all went, the chase was restarted. But of course, Bora continued to pile on the pressure, while Bennett’s Quickstep teammates near him scrambled to the front of the group and tried to claw back the gap. But to no avail, the gap began to balloon out. For Bennett and his men this would be a tough day, for the rest of the sprinters behind even tougher. O! Sam, you gave the thumbs-up too early! And Sagan was loving the moment. “Come on lads, now we’ve got him. Continue, this is great work. Forward! Let us now finish him. To the sword!” Perhaps he looked back, or gave a thought to Bennet behind, “It is nothing personal, Mr. Bennett, but you are in MY jersey and I would very much like it back. Goodbye now.” And with that, like a competent and accomplished Bond Villain Sagan and his Bora team literally left Bennett’s group in the dust; yes dear Readers, at one point the combination of wind and the helicopter started a dust bowl behind the lead-group that Bennett’s group had to ride through.

The gaps grew exponentially. With 128 km to go, Sagan’s peloton 100 men strong with Bora doing 100% of the work led Bennett’s chasing group of 30 riders by 1:05, a third group of the remaining 40 men in the race containing all the wounded and other big sprinters were already 2:37 back. This, dear Readers, is a crosswinds stage; who thought such devastation could be wreaked on the flat? At 120 km to go, Bennett’s group was now 1:44 down, the last group 3:26 behind. To think how it must feel to be in that third group, tired or wounded, perhaps now fighting to make the time cut with three quarters of the stage still to ride. It must be demoralizing; how could one motivate one’s self to fight on? All the strongest men of the day were further up front extending their lead. One group ahead, Sam Bennett must have been kicking himself, and his teammates Casper Asgreen and Bob Jungels (both Deceuninck-Quickstep) were turning themselves inside out on the front with little hope of catching the Bora-led peloton up ahead, and they had little assistance. In a group of 30, these two did the lion’s share of the work. While up front the Bora gents swapped turns on the front with five or six strong men. Every second they gained fueled them more to press on even harder. Perhaps Sagan thought to himself, “Ah! Now this is bike racing. This is where I belong. Say not the word Zwift in my presence. The lockdown was long and boring, it did not suit me well. Here, here is where I feel most alive. And now my top rivals are distanced, leaving me two opportunities to score ample points to take a commanding lead in Green.”

At that point the peloton began to approach the Intermediate Sprint, 20 points in the Green Jersey Points competition would be available for the man who crossed the line 1^st; 17 points for  2^nd; 15 points for 3^rd; and so on, down to 1 point for 15^th. This is why Bora had sprung the attack so early in the stage, to allow Sagan the opportunity to take maximum points while the other sprinters, especially Bennett, would take none. Though Bora had done well in losing all of the biggest sprinters, there was still competition here for Sagan. Wout Van Aert, already a sprint stage winner, was still in the group. Matteo Trentin (CCC), a notable fast man in a similar mold to Sagan, was still here. Little Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels Vital Concept) was surely one to watch, as well as Jasper Stuyven of Trek-Segafredo. Van Aert, with such loyal team duties to his GC leaders, had no interest in the Intermediate Sprint; but the others would not let Sagan walk to victory. They all formed up with whatever lead-out men they had for the sprint. The pace quickened, Trentin was interested in this, so was Coquard. Trentin and Sagan came out of the saddle, neck and neck, they sprinted for the line. It was close, almost a photo, but Trentin had it though his “straight line” may have been a little questionable, Sagan 2^nd, Coquard behind in 3^rd. We could see Sagan speak with Trentin after they crossed the line, what did he say? Perhaps he said, “Alright, Mr. Trentin, I don’t know about your line on that sprint, but let us now talk business. My lads have been working on the front like the huskies of Alaska dragging a large sled of supplies. You have men in these ranks as well. Send them to the front to assist us so that we might ensure our escape and stay away to the line. Then it will be down to you and I, Coquard behind, and perhaps the talented Van Aert to sprint for stage honors. Let us all contribute to the effort.”

Team CCC did not take the deal, so Bora continued to press on alone onto a long but shallow climb. At 108 km to go, Bennett’s group was 2:10 back, the third group 4:49 back. And the gap continued to grow. With 96 km to go, Bennett’s group was down 3:37, and the third group was even worse at 6:26 back. The cameras showed Bennett, he looked like death, he still rode on, but the fire was gone from him and his teammates and the whole rest of the group; the only thing left to do was suffer for another hundred kilometers. What a punishment for these men behind, all this Bora destruction caused because someone dared to challenge Sagan for Green, but that is cycling. Bennett’s group and the sprinters behind would not see the leaders again today and no points would be available to Bennett to defend his lead. Already after the Intermediate Sprint, Sagan was provisionally back in Green: Sagan 134 Points overall for the Tour, Bennett only 129.

With Caleb Ewan long gone and not to return, his teammate Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) attempted a solo attack over the top of the long climb. Thomas De Gendt, the finest breakaway specialist in the peloton, is always one to watch; surely everyone remembers his electrifying win into St. Etienne last year! Coquard’s B&B Hotels team then committed two riders to help the Bora men on the front; together the teams kept De Gendt on a short leash, his lead was never more than a minute. With 50 points available at the finish to the stage winner, this would be a golden opportunity for Sagan to consolidate his lead over all the sprinters that would not catch their group. No breakaway artists would get away today, Sagan wanted the full 50 Points, and if he could not win, he wanted to be as close as possible: 30, even 25 points would still give him a commanding lead. Perhaps here Sagan thought to himself, “What do you say now, journalists and experts? Here I am, Peter Sagan; I have struck back. Already I will be in Green at the end of the day, and here at the finish I will lengthen such a lead even more. For I am Monsieur Green Jersey!”

And so the conditions looked set for the final run into the finish, so long as De Gendt was kept in check. But with 40 km to go, the peloton was stirring. Suddenly the Ineos Grenadiers took command on the front; Dylan Van Baarle, Michal Kwaitkowski, Richard Carapaz, and Egan Bernal could have been confused with a squadron of jet fighters as they hawked down the road at the speed of sound. The astute Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quickstep) trailed right behind them. Yes, Ineos with their data and their most detailed preparation knew the time was right. In an instant De Gendt was caught, the peloton was strung far out single file…and bingo! The elastic snapped, the crosswinds ripped the peloton apart. Echelons re-formed. Van Baarle, the rider that strung out the field and ripped it apart, pulled off the front: tank empty, job done. Kwaito took his place on the front. What did Bora and Sagan think of this? Perhaps Sagan thought to himself, “Ah, yes, Ineos, I approve. Drive on. Long have I raced you all, in fact with all the many jersey podiums over the years I know some of your guys quite well: Froomey, G, young Egan. Really it is not my concern, but perhaps you all are under the same microscope as I am: they say you are off your game and out of sorts, your dominance is being questioned. Let us answer the critics together. Continue. Shell out your GC rivals, and drop also my other sprinting threats.”

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) missed the split. Dan Martin (Isreal Start-up Nation) was caught out as well. And then, finally, inevitably two of the big-fish GC riders were caught out too. Tadej Pogacar (UAE), laying third overall and wearing the White Jersey of Best Young Rider, with Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) were split from the main GC favorites. Greg Van Avermaet (CCC), Estaban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott), and some Movistar riders were caught back with them. The other GC teams pounced to take full advantage: surely they must twist the knife on Pogacar and Landa when they can, for both climb like angels in the mountains! In the front group, Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) looked composed in Yellow. Alaphilippe was in his element. Bernal looked good. Already this front leading group had 23 seconds on Pogacar’s group behind. For Sagan, Trentin was eliminated, he had missed the split; but Van Aert and Coquard and Stuyven were still in there. Then Carapaz had a puncture, unfortunate for Ineos, he was their second man to Bernal. But with 16 km to go, Pogacar and Landa’s group was now down 55 seconds; and other teams piled on to grow this gap: to the front came Jumbo-Visma, Astana, and Groupama-FDJ, all at full strength. An Ineos teammate dropped back to assist Carapaz, but to no avail, they fell back into the Pogacar group now 1:20 down with only 10 km remaining on the day. Stefan Kung drove the pace on the front for Groupama-FDJ, making sure to set a pace that no one could launch an attack from. Thus, this remaining group came into the final straightaway together for the sprint.

“Alright, Peter,” perhaps he thought to himself as they came into the final kilometer. “Here we go for another sprint. The pace is high, but most of the lead-out men are gone. There, there, yes, stay on Van Aert’s wheel, surely he is the man on top form, the one I must follow and come around for victory.” Yes, Sagan was in great position. But as Michael Gogl (NTT) swung off left for his sprinter Edvald Boasson Hagen (NTT) to launch his final sprint, Van Aert accelerated from the right, while Sagan peeled left and was slowed by Gogl sinking through the ranks. Sagan swung far left, perhaps nudging Hofstetter (Israel Start-up Nation), and instead of launching his final sprint, he looked down and spun out, his chain had dropped. Alas! Sagan would not finish off the day for his Bora teammates. Van Aert from the far right powered to the stage win over Boasson Hagen and Coquard. Sagan, with the mechanical problems, managed only 13^th. So much for consolidating the Points lead, 13^th only earned him 4 Points. Behind, the Pogacar group finished 1:20 down, and many minutes later Bennett’s group eventually crossed the line, but that all mattered little to Sagan.

Dear Readers, I will here stop musing on what Sagan’s thoughts might have been, for surely he was upset and surely the language would here become PG-13 or worse (Yes, this was confirmed by his international TV interview where he summed up the day in two words: “F***** cycling”). After all the work Bora did for him today, yes, he is now back in Green, but his advantage is only 9 Points over the formidable Sam Bennett. Not much of a lead over such a strong challenger, and perhaps another skirmish will commence as soon as tomorrow on the early Intermediate Sprint before the peloton enters the high Pyrenean passes. This was a legendary stage, but how much more legendary could it have been if Sagan had won? For it is a well-known fact that Peter Sagan is the President of that most elite Club I have so respectfully referenced on two previous occasions this race. Every Peter Sagan win brightens our days by a factor of at least 20%, often more. Since his first World Championship win in Richmond in 2015, 100% of cycling fans have been Peter Sagan fans; most were fans of his before that race, all were fans after. And if he had won today, why it would have been as beloved as one of those three World Championship victories. But at least another member of the “Makes-Our-Day” Club finished the job today. Wout Van Aert took his second stage of the race, what a Tour he is having! And Peter, though you didn’t achieve victory today and the competition for Points shall continue to rage on longer than expected this year, for over the 120^th time, tomorrow you shall be back in YOUR Green Jersey. And for that we salute you, Monsieur Green Jersey.