This victory, he dreamed of it. Before the race, Benjamin Thomas, a native of Lavaur, wanted at all costs to win on his land during this 15th stage of the Tour between Rodez and Carcassonne. “The stage passes 20 kilometers from my home (…) it is sure that I am motivated”, had also warned the runner from Cofidis, before the race.
To do this, the Habs have given themselves the means to fulfill their ambitions. 46 kilometers from the finish, he went on the offensive with his compatriot, Alexis Gougeard (B&B-KTM) by escaping from the peloton. While he was eight seconds ahead of his pursuers just four kilometers from the finish, Benjamin Thomas, who was racing solo, was caught in the last meters. A real disappointment for the 26-year-old cyclist.
“He didn’t miss much, I got stuck a bit in the final and then I found myself on my own so it was a bit long. I watched the kilometers go by and I said to myself, come on, there are still four terminals, three terminals, two terminals… When I saw the peloton tumbling down, everything collapsed. I believed in it but I was concentrated in my effort. I have no regrets, because I gave it my all,” analyzed the Cofidis runner.
“I thank Gougeard with whom we did a great number”
At the microphone of France Télévisions, the Frenchman also praised the performance of his compatriot, with whom he took the lead for more than 40 kilometers: “The peloton did not want to leave a large group. I played my all out in the final, I thank Gougeard with whom we did a great number. We tried and nothing to be ashamed of. It’s played on the razor’s edge. The peloton was managing pretty well.” For his first Grande Boucle, Benjamin Thomas will have made an impression during this 15th stage.