Jul 24, 2022 Canyon.com
Jul 24, 2022 Canyon.com

Tour de France 2022 Race Recap

The 2022 Tour de France was one of the most exciting editions in years. Rife with attacks, triumphs, and heart break, we couldn’t help but be glued to the coverage leading into the Champs-Élysées. Catch up on all the action below.

Tour de France 2022 Race Recap Tour de France 2022 Race Recap
From Copenhagen to France

It was a historic moment for the Tour de France, as it was the first time the race kicked off in Denmark. Pouring rain and grey conditions discouraged neither riders nor fans, as thousands lined the streets to watch the prologue. Mathieu van der Poel set the tone early on with a strong fifth place finish aboard his Speedmax, averaging a blisteringly fast 51 kmh time trial.

Van der Poel’s fifth place finish would be followed up the following day with a fifth-place finish by Alpecin-Deceuninck's Jasper Philipsen, showcasing the hunger and drive Alpecin-Deceuninck wielded throughout the Tour. Stages 3 and 4 saw a steady progression of the young Belgian’s finishes, finishing 3rd and 2nd on the day’s stages as the road race continued.

With just a smattering of shorter climbs in the Tour’s first week, Team Movistar, Alpecin-Deceuninck, and Arkea Samsic raced comfortably atop their Aeroads to maximize their potential in the sprint finishes. Leading into the race’s first summit finish, a Canyon-sponsored team finished within the top 10 of every stage, highlighting the consistency of our riders.

Mathieu van der Poel on his Canyon Speedmax Mathieu van der Poel raced to 5th place in the prologue.
Team Movistar at the 2022 Tour de France Team Movistar at the start of Stage 2 of the 2022 Tour de France
The First Mountain Stages of the 2022 Tour de France

Stage 7 of the Tour was the first stage that separated the general classification contenders from the sprinters. Finishing atop the heinously steep Planche de Belles Filles, it was Team Movistar’s Enric Mas who fared the best, crossing the line in 7th place, urging himself and his Ultimate accross the line just 27 seconds behind winner Tadej Pogacar.

Movistar showcased their climbing prowess over the subsequent stages, notably placing two riders in the top 10 on stage 9, where Carlos Verona finished on the podium in 3rd, and Enric Mas following soon after in 9th place.

Other noteworthy events in the 2nd week of the Tour were the stellar performance from Movistar’s Matteo Jorgenson, where the American of just 23 years of age finished 4th in stage 10.

Team Movistar at the 2022 Tour de France Team Movistar at the 2022 Tour de France
Heroism and Heartbreak in the Alps

The 2nd week of racing in the Alps also set the stage for some of the most exciting moments of the entire Tour. With some of the longest and most brutal climbs in the Tour on tap leading into stage 12, the Tour’s ‘Queen Stage,’ the battle for yellow was just about to begin.

Without a doubt one of the most exciting stages of the whole race was the stage 11 breakaway effort by Arkea Samsic’s Warren Barguil, winner of the Polka-Dot jersey in 2017, who was caught on the final climb of the day, the Col du Granon Serre Chevalier, the same mountain that foiled Bernard Hinault’s yellow jersey ambitions way back in 1986, handing it over to teammate Greg LeMond.

Arkea Samsic however held no punches; having sat with the yellow jersey group all day, Nairo Quintana would attack his chase group and sailed clear past the haggard Barguil, ultimately finishing 2nd on the stage, behind Jonas Vingegaard who dealt a lethal blow to Tadej Pogacar’s grip on the Maillot Jaune.

Stage 12 was by far the most foreboding on paper, as the road would pitch up and down the Col du Galibier, with a finish on the mythical Alpe D’Huez. Tom Pidcock claimed victory on the stage, with Movistar’s Enric Mas climbing valiantly to 8th place on the stage.

Enric Mas climbing the legendary Alpe D'Huez Enric Mas of Team Movistar climbing the legendary Alpe D'Huez

When the dust settled, the 2nd week of the Tour de France saw a changing of the yellow jersey holder, familiar names like Froome and Meintjes back at the front of the peloton, and Movistar and Arkea Samsic sitting in the top 10 in the general classification, with Enric Mas in 9th place overall and Nairo Quintana sitting in 6th place.

The Battle for the yellow jersey Continued Into the Final Week of Racing

After a much-needed rest day, the Tour continued into its 3rd and final week, with a few flat stages before the final showdown in the Pyrenees. Movistar’s Matteo Jorgenson scored an impressive 5th place finish on stage 13, but the real cause for celebration came on stage 15.

Seemingly always the bridesmaid and never the bride, the young Jasper Philipsen from Alpecin-Deceuninck stormed to victory in the scorched south of France to claim his first Tour de France stage win, and the first stage victory for Canyon in the 2022 Tour. A momentous moment for the young sprinter, it was especially bittersweet considering the recent abandonment of the race by Mathieu van der Poel.

Stage 16 was the last stage for the breakaway artists and sprinters, where the American Matteo Jorgenson again finished in an impressive 4th place. With just a few days left of racing, the race for yellow was far from over as two grueling stages in the Pyrenees lay ahead of the riders, before a flat stage and individual time trial leading into Paris.

Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck took the win on stage 15 Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck bested Wout van Aert to win Stage 15
The Beginning of the End of the 109th Tour de France

Stages 17 and 18 of the 2022 Tour de France would provide the final opportunities for teams to attack the yellow jersey, with two arduous stages featuring summit finishes in the Pyrenees. Stage 17 was not short on action. With four categorized climbs, Simon Geshke fought with his all to retain the Polka Dot jersey, while Vingegaard fought off attacks from Team DSM’s Romain Bardet, Team FDJ’s Thibaut Pinot, and a flurry of attacks from UAE Emirate’s Tadej Pogacar. Despite the efforts of the field, Vingegaard held on for 2nd place, with just one mountain stage left in the Tour.

Stage 18 featured three categorized climbs, the final three of the Tour, ending on the legendary Hautacam. The final test of form before running into Paris, Vingegaard’s victory in the stage all but confirmed his Maillot Jaune victory. Yet the real story coming out of that stage wasn’t just the climbing prowess of Vingegaard, but the showing of genuine respect and sportsmanship between Pogacar and Vingegaard following Pogacar’s wreck. This year’s Tour wasn’t shy on action yet offers compelling reminders about the respect that these riders have for one another.

Vingegaard, Pogacar, and Mas climbing the Alpe D'Huez The crowds were enormous at this year's Tour
The Final Days of the 2022 Tour de France

Stage 19 of the Tour de France ticked by at a shockingly fast clip despite the nearly 3 weeks of racing in the legs of the riders. The breakaway spent most of the day just barely ahead of the peloton, as they were kept on a tight leash by the field. A flurry of counterattacks within 2km of the finish made for an exciting sprint finish, netting France their first stage victory of the Tour with Christophe Laporte. Alpecin-Deceuninck's Jasper Philipsen crossed the line in 2nd place, his 4th podium finish of this year’s Tour de France. Motivated and in good form, all eyes would be on Philipsen for the sprint finale in Paris.

Vingegaard Secures the Maillot Jaune and Philipsen Wins in Paris

The yellow jersey was Vingegaard’s to lose as he took to the starting house for the Stage 20 time trial. Vingegaard defended his win going into Paris with a 2nd place finish, putting an additional 6 seconds into his rival, Tadej Pogacar.

As the peloton rolled into Paris, the first few laps around the picturesque downton rolled leisurely, with photo opprutunities abound and celebrations amongst the riders. With approximately 50km to go, the racing unofficially begun, as attacks shot out to around the cacouphonous rattle of wheels on the cobbles of the Champs-Élysées.

Jasper Philipsen wins the last stage of the 2022 Tour de France Jasper Philipsen sprinting to victory on his Aeroad CFR in Paris

Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck was the fastest man of the bunch, sprinting to an emphatic victory in front of the Arc de Triomphe. It was an emotional moment for the young Belgian, the team, and for Canyon. It was the Belgian’s 2nd Tour de France stage win, and the first ever for Canyon in Paris.

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