Greig Leach

The day started with an early break that was clear over the first climb. However there was a sprint point, before the big mountains rose up ahead of the peloton today. So never wanting to leave points on the table, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) got himself across to the leading group. As the twenty-some riders approached the intermediate sprint in Semsales, it looked like Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain-Victorious) was thinking about going for the maximum points on offer. A few quick, perhaps choice, words from Van Aert, about not trying to outsprint him and Sanchez eased up so the Belgium could add to his lead in the Maillot Vert. The way it is going, it is going to take some very bad luck for Van Aert not to carry the Green Jersey all of the way to Paris. On his wheel, the current German Champion, Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) knew better than poke the bear in this sprint. He just contended himself with using Van Aert's draft to power along the break away.