Gallery
Climbing Virtually & Literally TdF22-115
The title is a bit of a play on the difference of literally and figuratively, something that bugs me when people say literally when they are actually using a metaphor, or a figure of speech. I digress. Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) while climbing the Col de Spandelles was climbing the virtual standings of the general classification during the stage. Meaning if the race were to be stopped now, he would have moved up to third overall. It has happened in the Tour, two years ago and it pulled the Maillot Jaune off of Julian Alaphilippe. Meintjes was joined in the effort by Chris Hamilton (DSM) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain-Victorious). I'm not sure if Sanchez was going forward with them, or he was dropping back from the lead group and was trying to get on Hamilton's wheel. This is the first time the Tour has used the climb of the Col de Spandelles and it would have its say on the Tour (more later).