Tourist
Julian Alaphilippe wins the sprint for third place on the 15th tour stage and has no idea that two drivers are already finished. His cheers also symbolically stand for the fate of the smaller teams.
The scene was eagerly discussed on French television. Julian Alaphilippe sprints over the finish line of the 15th stage in Carcassonne And cheers out loudly – as a day -to -day. The pictures were repeated a couple of times during the TV discussion for the Tour de France and also ran over the screen on the team bus of the team Tudor, Alaphilippe’s team.
So the waiting fans and journalists had the opportunity to take a closer look at the matter while waiting for alaphilipes and explanations. “Problems with the radio”, led the sporting leaders as the reason for the wrong jubilation, which Alaphilippe later confirmed.
Always new outlier groups
Again and again, various outlier groups had put together and Alaphilippe only joined the group shortly before, from which he then won the sprint for third place. You could lose the overview without radio contact.
The ex-world champion had not apparently noticed that Belgian Tim Wellens had set off as a soloist 42 kilometers earlier and had been finished for a minute and a half. On the other hand, Alaphilippe could have seen that another driver was almost 300 meters before his group with Victor Campenaerts. But he had apparently not noticed that in the zeal of the battle. “Like an idiot” So he raised his arms, said Alaphilippe later.
It must be said to his salvation that he is not the first cycling professional to break out at the finish because he believes himself as the winner. It had already happened to him when he had already torn his arms up at the classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2020 and was then intercepted by Primoz Roglic.
Pogacar is happy with waves victory
Alaphilipes cheers in Carcassonne Also had a certain symbolic character. The small teams have to cheer for third place on this tour, because the top teams are insatiable at the front. Above all, the UAE team for which the stage winner Tim Wellens drives.
The Belgian is actually divided as a helper for the man in the yellow jersey, for Tadej Pogacar. “Letting him alone was not the best decision”, said Wellens later. “But I knew that if I went and win, the team will be happy.”
So it was: Pogacar even claimed that he was happier about his colleague’s victory than about the yellow jersey. In any case, this rests on his shoulders with more than four minutes ahead of Jonas Vingegaard’s overall moves that he can allow his helpers to look for their own success.
UAE has won a third of the stages
After the four stage wins of Tadej Pogacar, Wellen’s day’s victory was already the fifth success for the team on this year’s tour. The UAE team has won a third of all stages. Also the other big player, the team visualLease a bike Jonas Vingegaard has already won a day.
The other nine day victories went to six different teams. Conversely, 15 teams have been left empty. The pressure is greater and fewer occasions from day to day. Because the smaller teams in particular are dependent on stage wins on the tour, not least to satisfy the sponsors.
15. Stage ideal for outliers
The 15th stage from Muret was on paper on paper Carcassonne One of the best chances to achieve this goal. Because the profile was selective enough to avoid a mass sprint. So ideal for outliers to look for their chance.
He was glad that his team had already won a stage, Andreas Klier, the sporting director of the EF Education-Easy Post team, had in the morning Muret explained. Irish Ben Healy had the sixth stage in Virus Normandy Woned for the team and, after the tenth stage, can even cover the yellow jersey for two days.
The tour can no longer be a failure for the team from the USA. “If we had driven just as quickly, and Ben will be second on the stage and would have missed the jersey by three seconds, we would really have pressure today.”
Alaphilipe’s team drives the tour with a wildcard
Others now have it. For example, the Tudor team from Julian Alaphilippe. The Swiss team drives as a team that does not hold a World Tour license with a wildcard on the tour. A stage victory would be more than a prestige success for the ambitious project under the direction of the former Swiss world -class professional Fabian Cancellara.
Julian Alaphilippe fell at the beginning of the 15th stage
At Tudor, too, of course, they knew about the supposed opportunity on the 15th stage. Alaphilippe had even fell violently on the way, which ultimately led to his defective radio. He had also had his shoulder, which he then wrapped himself again. Nevertheless, he drove to victory.
UAE is “hot for more”
Alaphilipe’s teammate Michael Storer was also one of the outliers and was later recognized on the podium as the most combative driver of the day. He would have preferred to stand up there as a day winner, said the Australian. Unlike his team -mate Alaphilippe, after cheering, he was apparently not too much to do.
Six stages now remain for a day’s victory for the smaller teams. The Tadej Pogacar, which is above all standing, will certainly be the 16th stage on the Mont Ventoux Want to win – alone because of the prestige. But his team will probably not be content. “It will never be boring”, said Pogacar’s German teammate Nils Politt. “We’re hot for more.”