The former world-class sprinter Caleb Ewan sharply criticized the responsible route planners of the Tour de France after the heavy falls on the third stage. In his eyes, the chaos came with an announcement on the last few meters.
The former Australian cycling professional Caleb Ewan is convinced that the curvy last meters on the third stage of the Tour de France were ultimately the decisive reason for the severe fall, in which Remco Evenepoel and Jordi Meeuws were involved.
The sprinter did not take a risk that was too high. He booked the fall in the “racing accident” category, Ewan explained in his “Wiel Revue” analysis. He has also seen worse falls, said the Australian. “This is simply part of cycling.”
Ewan knew “that it would be a bloodbath”
But the big one: “It [die Streckenführung] In fact, it wasn’t ideal. If you had only postponed the finish line a little bit, you could have sprinted on a straight line. With such a final you know that it will be a bloodbath, “Ewan criticized the route planning with clear words.
“I left the last 500 meters in the morning and knew immediately that it would be difficult. Many boys are pressed against the gang because the group swings from left to right. It is basically very logical that something is going wrong somewhere,” Ewan summarized.
Tour out for top sprinter Philipsen
On Monday, however, it was not only the spectacular crash in the target sprint, but above all the severe fall, which occurred many kilometers earlier in an intermediate sprint. Top sprinter Jasper Philipsen was difficult to fall there.
The Belgian suffered a fracture of the rib and collarbone in his fall and had to give up the big loop early after driving into the yellow jersey on the 1st stage.