Tour de France Stage 11, Mont Ventoux

7 JULY 2021

Wout van Aert comes to the top of the second ascent of Mont Ventoux on stage 11, which would finish down the other side of the mountain in Malaucène. The Belgian had enjoyed a solid Tour until this point, holding second place overall through the first Alpine stage of the race before dropping out of contention. He infiltrated the break of the day on stage 11, and looked to be up against it, as the strong Trek duo of Kenny Elissonde and Bauke Mollema, both good climbers, were with him as the dwindling group climbed the Giant of Provence for the second time. The Belgian champion took the initiative on the climb and rode away, holding off his rivals and descending to the stage win. The Ventoux victory would be part one of a ‘perfect hat trick’ of stage wins for Van Aert - as well as this mountain stage win, he took the stage 20 time trial and the bunch sprint in Paris on the last day of the race..