TOUR DE FRANCE | 01/07/2024 | 18:52
by Claudio Ghisalberti
In Turin it had to be a flight and it was a flight. Even if…
«Although a little distorted, first by the mechanical problem (puncture?) that struck Van Der Poel, then by the fall», attacks Re Leone Cipollini.
Mario, VdP at Philipsen’s service, was supposed to be a bit of a beacon for this arrival. Without him, everything has really changed.
«Certainly, and we haven’t seen a team that has been able to decisively take the situation into its own hands. So in the end there were 4-5 sprinters who weren’t able to express themselves at their best.”
However, everything seemed to be going in Pedersen’s favour, but in the end he was a bit disappointing.
«Pedersen made a mistake in losing the wheel of Stuyven who was convinced he had him behind but when he left he wasn’t there. The former world champion thus had to make two sprints, one to get back to the front, the other to try to win. It was inevitable that in the last few meters he lost his legs.”
Great Grmay.
“He was good and it was nice to see him win. An Eritrean who wins a stage, an Ecuadorian – Carapaz – in yellow are important signals for cycling. It means that our sport is truly global, accessible to everyone. I saw a documentary about Carapaz the other day. He comes from a really simple place. Not that San Giusto di Compito where I come from is very different… But I’m happy that in places that are just a dot on the globe, champions are born.”
Today Carapaz seemed to be the only one of the big names who was really interested in wearing the yellow jersey.
«Beautiful and important, once upon a time we would kill ourselves to have it. However, it must be said that it involves a series of protocol obligations. In the end, those who are without have two more hours available to recover. Which seem like little but mean a lot. So, based on a feeling, I would say that Pogacar and Vingegaard would have liked Evenepoel to take the yellow one.”
And tomorrow there is the Galibier. My great curiosity is for Roglic. If he has really set his preparation on super-resistance at the expense of explosiveness, as we hypothesized yesterday, he must respond present on the Galibier. He cannot break away like on the San Luca.
“I totally agree. After all, you have to take into account that the Slovenian has just won the Dauphiné, so he’s in good shape, and that I don’t think Red Bull is going to make a mistake in their approach to the Tour. They’re used to Formula 1, which is light years ahead of cycling. Those who come from that world have a different vision of the sport, it’s hard to get their calculations wrong. Very hard. However, thinking about tomorrow, I’d add that French cycling has raised its average level a lot. You’ll see that with the Tour coming to their home they’ll do everything to prove they’re very strong. The home teams will raise hell. Do you want to see?”
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