Maximilian Schachmann has strongly criticized the driving style of Jumbo-Visma and leader Primoz Roglic in the Tour de France. According to the BORA-hansgrohe rider, also the team of classification rider Aleksandr Vlasov, the Dutch team is taking too much risk and that creates dangerous situations.
“Jumbo-Visma should act normal for once”, said Schachmann against German media on Thursday. “The whole team is driving like crazy and looking for the last centimeter of the road. And they can’t do it yet. Roglic caused another fall on Thursday. It is a danger for all riders and completely unnecessary. I don’t think this is possible .”
Podium candidate Vlasov fell 13 kilometers from the finish on Thursday, where Roglic had to swerve and drove a few meters through the berm. “If there’s no place, there’s just no place,” Schachmann said. “You have to accept that and not look for the smallest hole to get to the front. Roglic was lucky this time that he didn’t fall himself.”
The Slovenian fell on Wednesday in the cobblestone stage to Arenberg himself. His shoulder dislocated and he lost more than 2 minutes to top favorite Tadej Pogacar.
The damage at Vlasov was not too bad on Thursday. He eventually lost 5 seconds and is sixth in the standings, 52 seconds behind Pogacar.
The Tour de France continues on Friday with the seventh stage, a stage of 176.3 kilometers to the finish at La Planche des Belles Filles.