Reactions: The Tour de France tackles the ‘Giant of Provence’ x 2

The double ascent of Mont Ventoux on stage 11 of the 2021 Tour de France gave us an epic day of racing in which the maillot jaune finally showed a bit of weakness and we were treated to an unexpected stage winner.

One day after finishing second in a bunch sprint, Wout van Aert climbed to his fourth career Tour de France stage win. The Belgian champion also vaulted into second in the King of the Mountains standings, a rather interesting development considering he won that classification in 38 out of 100 simulations of the 2021 Tour.

Tadej Pogačar showed the Tour isn’t over until the riders hit the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées. He admitted after the stage that he “exploded a little bit” when was unable to follow the wheel of Jonas Vingegaard the second time up Mont Ventoux.

Overall, it must have been a very tiring day in the saddle as the peloton took a little while to finally share their thoughts on the historic day of racing. Nonetheless, we’ve gathered all of their tweets for you. Happy reading!

When you try to wink at the camera after climbing Mont Ventoux twice 😑#TdF2021 @INEOSGrenadiers
🎥 @Eurosport pic.twitter.com/sroQF6R42G

— Michał Kwiatkowski (@kwiato) July 7, 2021

Fighting double Mont Ventoux be like 🥵🥴☠️
Congrats @woutvanaert what a stage win 👏.
Today the team saved me with all the water bottles, thanks guys @uae_team_emirates. https://t.co/6CBI6EeIHZ

— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) July 7, 2021

The downhill was almost worth the climb. https://t.co/ZhnwIP7EYy

— Toms Skujiņš (@Tomashuuns) July 7, 2021

Thoughts of a neo-pro at the TDF pt.3 “will be nice to experience Ventoux for the first time”

— Harry Sweeny (@harry_sweeny) July 7, 2021

So so cool to see you on the road mate!! https://t.co/4tsngFUyg2

— Tao Geoghegan Hart (@taogeoghegan) July 7, 2021

Breakaway day with a double Ventoux on the menu. Great support alongside the road and an awesome performance by Wout! #TDF2021 #RoulonsAutrement #RideDifferently (📸 ASO/Pauline Ballet) pic.twitter.com/mIneTtPHKb

— Greg Van Avermaet (@GregVanAvermaet) July 7, 2021

Two times up this @letourdefrance iconic climb today! I surprised myself holding on to the favourites group on the first ascent!
Max speed run for the #specializedaethos today: 111km/h 😎🚲💨
📸 @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/Vyhek5EPAt

— Kasper Asgreen (@k_asgreen) July 7, 2021

Content de ma journée face au Géant de Provence. 12ème de l’étape, 9ème au général. La route est encore longue!

Hard but good day around Mont Ventoux. Still a long way to go!@TeamCOFIDIS solide aujourd’hui encore 👍👍 pic.twitter.com/JeEjqMc5Bn

— Guillaume Martin (@GuilmMartin) July 7, 2021

Translation: Happy with my day against the Giant of Provence. 12th on the stage, 9th overall. There is still a long way to go! Hard but good day around Mont Ventoux. Still a long way to go! Team Cofidis solid even today.

One of the hardest day in my cyclist life 🥵 I had to push so hard to reach the finish and thank to @mhaller91 for staying close to me 🙏 Better days will come #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/FRoYvK7AbQ

— Sonny Colbrelli (@sonnycolbrelli) July 7, 2021

Really shit to leave the Tour like this, but I will be back! https://t.co/IS7uUXc0hp

— Tiesj (@TiesjBenoot) July 7, 2021

Been a brutal Tour. We’re gonna miss @lukerowe1990. See you soon butt pic.twitter.com/VXrNZzm80J

— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) July 7, 2021

Not sure if I wanted to experience this Mt Ventoux twice on 1 day. Thanks @WoutvanAert for cruising up in front to leave us in time! What a legend you are! Congrats for that impressive performance pic.twitter.com/KvP1Rdjr6Z

— Andre Greipel (@AndreGreipel) July 7, 2021

That was an epic day up and around the Ventoux! Proud of how we rode as a team with a very strong @JulienBernard17 and @KennyElissonde!
👊 @TrekSegafredo pic.twitter.com/sNW7x1kq1d

— Bauke Mollema (@BaukeMollema) July 7, 2021