If 'sneaky' domestique of Pogacar comes along, you'll be deep sh*t, Campenaerts knows: “You don’t want him there”

The always honest Campenaerts told Eurosport he saw it coming. “I feel really good this Tour. Today, we wanted to go for the stage win, and it was a good situation with both Wout and myself in the breakaway. But Wellens… We have a good relationship off the bike, but during the race, he’s someone you don’t want around. He’s smart, sneaky, he knows exactly how to play it.” Wellens attacked solo with 43 kilometers to go.

Before the climbs, Wellens had barely been seen at the front. “He wasn’t doing any turns, but he was very strong and didn’t miss a single move. He picked the perfect moment, on the highest part of the stage. Coming second isn’t why you race, it’s disappointing. It is what it is. Wellens was really strong, really smart. He didn’t steal anything. I knew he was the man to beat. He’s experienced… but I also heard he’s in love. Maybe that gave him some extra strength,” Campenaerts laughed.

Wout van Aert finished fourth. Alongside teammate Victor Campenaerts, the two Belgians were the main hopes for Visma | Lease a Bike, but a win wasn’t in the cards. “Wout said, ‘Don’t be disappointed, we did what we could,’” said Campenaerts, who managed to break away from his rivals in the final kilometers—thanks to a little help from his teammate. “He came back into the group and said, ‘Campi, go for second place. There are a lot of fast guys here, it’ll be hard in a sprint.’”

That much was clear: Julian Alaphilippe beat Campenaerts in the sprint for third place, as Van Aert was completely spent. “I already felt tired after the first two hours because I had to do a lot of work,” said the 30-year-old all-rounder. That’s why he gave Campenaerts the green light to go for it. “He was stronger on the climbs, so it was good to have him up there. It allowed me to sit tight in the group. The finish was downhill, which suited a heavier guy like me. It was actually a surprise I was still able to fight for the podium.”