Canadian cyclist Hugo Houle claimed victory in the opening stage of the Pyrenean race this Tuesday, while France’s Valentin Madouas led a decisive break that stretched well ahead of his teammates and fellow Canadian Michael Woods, as well as Movistar’s American rider Matteo Jorgenson.
Houle, 31, rides for the Israeli squad, marking the first Canadian to win the gala Tour since the era of former sports director Steve Bauer.
Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark retained the yellow jersey about six minutes after crossing the line, while a pack of Slovenian riders, including Tadej Pogacar, pressed forward and repeatedly attacked in the final kilometers. The day’s penultimate ascent came at the Col de Lers, testing the contenders’ endurance.
England’s Geraint Thomas held onto fourth place, but Colombia’s Nairo Quintana moved closer to the podium by overtaking France’s Romain Bardet, who struggled to maintain pace with the front group and fell more than three minutes behind.
Houle’s win at Foix came amid a dramatic display of climbing and tactics, with the lead group remaining cohesive until the final kilometers. Vingegaard remained in contention as Pogacar intensified his attacks, while Enric Mas, who had initially tried to escape on the Lers climb, ultimately lost nearly three minutes and dropped out of the top ten overall. This reshaped the overall standings and highlighted the race’s tense dynamics as the field pushed toward the finish.
The race at Foix confirms Houle’s stage victory and Vingegaard’s resilience against Pogacar
The overall position places the GC leader 4.15 ahead of the Colombian challenger and 1.32 ahead of the rider in third. Mas’s late attack on the Lers climb did not pay off; he was absorbed by the peloton and finished well outside the top ten, signaling a setback in his campaign.
The overall ranking after stage 16 of the 2022 Tour shows a highly competitive field
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Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen (DEN/Jumbo-Visma) 64:28:09
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Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE Emirates) – 00:02:22
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Geraint Thomas (GBR/Ineos Grenadiers) at 00:02:43
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Nairo Quintana (COL/Arkea-Samsic Team) 00:04:15
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David Gaudu (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) 00:04:24
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Adam Yates (GBR/Ineos Grenadiers) 00:05:28
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Louis Meintjes (RSA/Intermarche) 00:05:46
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Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS/Bora-Hansgrohe) 00:06:18
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Romain Bardet (FRA/Team DSM) 00:06:37
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Thomas Pidcock (GBR/Ineos Grenadiers) 00:10:11
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Enric Mas (ESP/Movistar Team) 00:12:45
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Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ/Astana-Kazakhstan Team) 00:14:10
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Neilson Powless (US/EF-EasyPost) 00:18:02
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Valentin Madouas (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) 00:22:20
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Bob Jungels (FRA/AG2R Citroën Team) 00:26:06
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Luis León Sánchez (ESP/Bahrain-Victorious) 00:30:31
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Thibaut Pinot (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) 00:30:35
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Patrick Konrad (GER/Bora-Hansgrohe) 00:34:03
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Rafal Majka (POL/UAE Team Emirates) 00:43:31
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Damiano Caruso (BRN/Bahrain Victorious) 00:43:55
Overall, the stage showcased Houle’s tactical awareness and Vingegaard’s steadfast defense against Pogacar’s repeated sprints. The race remained open in the final kilometers, with Mas and other climbers attempting last-ditch moves before the finish, illustrating the ongoing drama of the Tour as it approaches its climactic moments.