Getting the shot: Teamwork!

Getting the shot: Teamwork!

James Startt explains how he got his top shot from stage 11 of the 2022 Tour de France

Photos: James Startt Tour de France Words: James Startt

Wow, what a stage! In my 30-odd years covering the Tour de France, I can’t remember such a dramatic stage in the fight for the yellow jersey. Until today Tadej Pogačar seemed simply unbeatable. As my colleague Ed Pickering mentioned in his recent feature: "you are unbeatable until you are beaten."

As Ed also said, the only way to beat the yellow jersey was for a team to risk everything, to be willing to lose it all, to win. And that is just what happened.

I was well up the road when I heard the race radio announcing that Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič had gone on the attack already on the Col de la Télégraphe, the first major climb of this already brutal stage from Albertville to the summit of the Col de Granon. Not since Marco Pantani attacked Jan Ullrich on the Col du Galibier in the 1998 Tour could I remember a major challenger going on the attack so early. 

Obviously the situation was different as this was a team going on the attack and not just a single rider, but still the move was spectacular. Over the Télégraphe, down into Valloire and up the opening kilometres of the Galibier, Roglič and Vingegaard traded punches while Pogačar defended his yellow jersey and even countered. 

Finally nearing the summit of the Galibier, Roglič faded. The designated team Jumbo-Visma leader at the start of the Tour knew his own chances were over. But the team had succeeded in isolating Pogačar. The situation only got worse for Pogačar as they raced down the valley towards Briançon as Roglič, Sepp Kuss, Steven Kruijswijk caught back to the lead group. 

By numbers only, Pogačar was in trouble. 

At the foot of the Granon, Roglič returned to the front, if only for a minute. His day and his Tour was done. 

The rest, you have read many times over by now as Vingegaard went on the attack and Pogačar folded. 

For much of the final climb, I focused on capturing the action. But when Roglič crossed the line with his teammate Kuss, the two lines, the two couldn’t have been happier.

The Tour after all, is an individual sport contested by teams. No individual is stronger than their team! As Roglič and Kuss crossed the line, they couldn’t have been happier. Roglič had clearly lost the Tour, but his teammate may well have won the Tour. 

Camera : Nikon D5

Lens : Nikon 70mm-200mm (set at 135mm)

Shutter speed : 1/1600th 

Aperture : F 5

ISO 640

Photos: James Startt Tour de France Words: James Startt

READ MORE

Giro d'Italia 2024 peloton

Giro d’Italia route 2025: Everything you need to know about the stages of this year's race

The white roads of Strade Bianche, fearsome mountain passes and a Balkan Grande Partenza

Leggi di più
Juan Ayuso and Primoz Roglic

Giro d’Italia 2025 contenders: who will win the 108th edition?

Rouleur takes a look at the contenders to win the Maglia Rosa in Italy this month

Leggi di più
XDS Astana's Great Escape is definitely on: 'Why shouldn't we be confident?'

XDS Astana's Great Escape is definitely on: 'Why shouldn't we be confident?'

Alexander Vinokourov's team are making the impossible rather quite possible

Leggi di più
La Vuelta Femenina contenders 2025

La Vuelta a España Femenina preview: Who can challenge Demi Vollering for the red jersey?

All the essential information about the first Grand Tour of the year

Leggi di più
‘There’s a lack of support for retired riders’ - Grace Brown on navigating life after racing

‘There’s a lack of support for retired riders’ - Grace Brown on navigating life after racing

While the former Olympic and World champion is relishing new ventures in retirement, she is keen to ensure more support is in place for those...

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE