Google links and URLs redirected?

I noticed tonight I was having trouble loading a few sites (i.e.Wikipedia.org) so I Googled 'Wikipedia' and the results showed the link under the result as https://www.wikipedia. org/ but when I clicked on that 'google' link, it gave me this link

<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjcgqrX8LjlAhUGWq0KHW03BT4QFjAAegQ IABAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wikipedia.org%2F&usg=AOvVaw3ay7vaEtH0yTTYdDmrvinX>

without the <> and the linked page will usually never load and times out.

Is this normal for Google or are my links being redirected(or both). It just seemed strange to me and not the way I remembered Google working.I thought I remembered when you clicked on a hyperlink it took you to the site...... i.e. - https://www.wikipedia. org/ Ive also noticed slow loads with a couple other links(outside google) but I didnt take note of the links, but most links when surfing come right up with no lag.
Your feedback is appreciated.

C

Win7-64 FF66.0.3

Yeah, when I posted the links, it created a Wikipedia hyperlink and I had to put a space between the < . and org > hoping for clarification but that obviously didnt help. The point I was trying to make was...... the url that google visually shows on the page 'appears to show' the correct .....https://www.wikipedia.org...... link but when you click that link it isnt that and the google link does not load

Im trying to understand why google doesnt send me to .....https://www.wikipedia.org...... when I search Wikipedia instead of giving me a google link that does not work. fyi, I was just using Wikipedia as an example. Please forgive my lack of knowledge and trouble explaining. I posted hoping to understand.