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Will They Challenge? TdF22-114
With the Maillot a Pois off the back of the breakaway Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) felt that he was the heir apparent for the King of the Mountains title. As the strongest of the break away reached the top of the Col d'Aubisque he looked back to see if anyone was going to try and out sprint him for the twenty points at the top of the climb. As he went off, it seemed clear that neither Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) nor Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) weren't interested in the points. I know Pinot was still trying to get a stage win for himself, his team, and his country. I honestly have no idea why Van Aert was even off the front. He had already grabbed the maximum sprint points and he did have his team leader (and the race leader) down the mountain. Perhaps he just kept pushing waiting for when Jonas Vingegaard came up to him on one of the final two climbs of the day (and the Tour).