Wow!t van Aert (new spelling) was catapulted up the last climb by his Jumbo-Visma teammates and then time-trialled the entire peloton into the background. Wasn’t that one of the most thrilling sporting achievements of the year? (Along with Johnny Bairstow’s four test centuries, perhaps or Rafa Nadal’s 22nd Grand Slam win?). So his current run of stage finishes from the last two of the 2021 Tour are: first-first-second-second-second-first! Red Bull gives you wings?

Magnus Cort continues to lead the Viking of the Mountains competition as he set a new record for the first over the top of the first 12 KOM ascents of a Tour. Today he soared to a nose-bleed-inducing199 metres above sea level at the Buempe de Harlettes.

Team of the Day

Iseabel, David, Stephen, Mike and Dale (AND Paul M – sorry for missing you out!) shared with stage win through Van Aert’s brilliance, but Iseabel’s team were the best-scoring minileague team on the day.

The pessimistically-named Cela na va pas bien se passer who defied nominative determinism to go tops on Stage 4. This gives us a chance to see her bold team selection with all eggs in two baskets (Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers). It’s working so far with a solid second place in the rankings.

Stat du Jour

Postcard from Calais

Mardi 5 juillet 2022 Calais

“Mon aéroglisseur est plein d’anguilles” may be one of the essential phrases required for full disclosure when arriving in Calais in this post-Brexit era. It will have been little used, however, since October 2000 with the last commercial flight of the SRN4 hovercraft which was built at the British Hovercraft Corporation in East Cowes. Since that time the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has gone from super-abundance to the critically endangered list. Just sayin’.

Today’s postage stamp celebrates the 1972 Road Race World Champioinships which was held in Gap in South-East France. The rider pictured may not be identified, but the women’s champion that year was French: Geneviève Gambillon who dominated French track and road cycling in the early 1970s (21 national jerseys!). She won again in 1974, retired to become a nurse 4 years later and is now in her 71st year. Chapeau, Madame!