Greig Leach

For long time American fans of the Tour, we all treasure the moment when Lance Armstrong looked back into the eyes of Jan Ullrich on a stage in the Pyrenees and then road away from the race and into the Maillot Jaune. I don't know if Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) is aware of that piece of Tour history, but it sure looked like he wanted to repeat it on the Col de Marie Blanque. With a time bonus (and one rider) up the road the Colombian in the Maillot Blanc was hoping he would leave his GC rivals. However, the trio of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) didn't seem to have any interest in following the script. In fact it was they who later put Bernal into difficulties. I should say that the fans were a bit better at staying out of the riders way, and at wearing their masks, most even had them in the right place on their faces.