It was the second time this year that Tim Wellens raised his arms in glory, after doing it in Mallorca for the first time, however this win at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var was arguably more impressive and more important as now a GC win is imminent aswell.
“It was definitely not an easy stage but just like yesterday I felt really good and with the way the team worked tirelessly, it was just a joy to race like this. They brought me towards the foot of the Col d’Eze just perfectly," Wellens said after the finale.
“I started the climb in ideal position but when Quintana launched his attack, I didn’t have an immediate answer. I realised he went a little too fast so I needed to pace my effort and I could eventually make up ground a bit later. To be honest, I was struggling on the plateau just after the summit but when I finally caught Quintana, I think that I broke his morale a bit. I knew the finish all too well because Ilive just a couple of kilometres away in Monaco.”
After having been key in Caleb Ewan's leadout yesterday, Tim Wellens started the day as one of the favourites for the race's queen stage. However with Nairo Quintana present and putting on the pressure early on the final climb it was a tough challenge to keep the Colombian's move under control.
Despite not being able to keep up, the Lotto Soudal rider took advantage of the run-up to the line in La Turbie on flat roads to catch up with Quintana, and without much difficulties, beat him in the final sprint.
“Of course we are going full for the overall win but tomorrow’s longer climbs are not in my favour. I expect that Arkéa Samsic will go full and try to make it as hard as possible for us. In theory it’s quite simple: I just need to follow Quintana’s wheel. However, I will do everything I can to take home the overall win," he completed with.
Wellens has to resist one more day though as the final 112.6 kilometer stage features a number of climbs, however none as hard as today's, and much more suited to him then to his main rival Nairo Quintana. Lotto Soudal will nevertheless have to keep tight control on the peloton in a day that starts with another ascent of the Col d'Éze, and that will be a tough ask.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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🇫🇷 #TDHV22 What a show the team put on again today with an impressive @Tim_Wellens powering to the stage win and leader's jersey! 🤩
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