Greig Leach

Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had literally done all he could to retake the Maillot Jaune after losing it to Tadej Pogacar in the time trial yesterday. He started the day he was a minute and a half behind the three-time Tour Champion, and current UCI World Tour Champion so getting into a breakaway was paramount. He managed to join in the move that went after the intermediate sprint and hang tight over the next seven climbs. He lost touch with each of his six companions on the road finishing eighth on the stage almost four minutes behind the stage winner and one of those he had ridden most of the stage with, Ben Healy. The next guy to finish the stage in nineth place was Pogacar himself another minute and twenty-nine seconds later. It was just enough for Van Der Poel to reclaim the Maillot Jaune that he had on stage 4. That day he was on equal time with Tadej, now he has a one second advantage going into a series of flatter stages until the first mountain stage on Monday. If he is able to recover from today's effort, he could be in the jersey another three days!