2023-07-12 01:46:19
In 2017, he brought the polka dot jersey back to Paris by winning two stages in the Tour de France that year. Since then, the Breton from Arkéa-Samsic has been chasing a new bouquet. Under the crushing heat of Issoire, he believed in it even if he finished in a second group about thirty seconds behind the winner of the day, the Spaniard Pello Bilbao. He took 9th place and finished first in France just ahead of Julian Alaphilippe.
Did you think you could win this stage?
Warren Barguil. Yes, I believed in it, maybe I overdid it a little too much at some point. I’m always generous in breakaways. She left on the pedal, as I like. Unfortunately, it didn’t slow down in front (in the first group of 6 riders who fought for victory). If there had been a few seconds of hesitation in front, I think we could go in and play for victory. I also wanted to play the points for the polka dot jersey because, day to day, he is in the back of my mind (he has 6 points against 46 at Neilson Powless). But the most important thing is to win a stage.
“The hot weather required a lot of effort, with a very tough start”
Have you suffered from the heat?
I get out of the shower thinking of taking an ice cream but even in the bus, with the heat, it was lukewarm. That’s crazy. Yes, it was very difficult with the heat. This stage resembled that of Mende last year which I had watched on TV with great frustration (he had given up the day before, victim of the heat). The hot weather required a lot of effort, with a very tough start. But these are conditions that I like and I’m happy to have taken this 9th place. The legs after my Giro are gradually coming back and I’m happy with myself.
Were you surprised that Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar attacked so early in the day?
No because with Pogacar, you have to expect everything. Vingegaard is following him. I think Tadej wanted to test Vingegaard very quickly after the rest day to find out if he had the legs.
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