It is stage 17 of the Tour de France, and the race is just about over for sprinters. That is it, job completed. There’ll virtually positively not be one other bunch dash on the Tour till subsequent July. There isn’t a Paris stage this yr to fret about. Ft up then, proper?
Effectively, no. Not likely. The Tour has one in all its hardest endings in latest reminiscence, with three mountain-top finishes and a hilly time trial to come back, with little or no reduction. The race can be on, with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) chasing Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates) for each second. It is going to be removed from straightforward.
It appears a bit merciless, actually, to drive one of the best sprinters over this brutal course simply to be able to end the race, far more of a Giro d’Italia end than one for the Tour. Even Pogačar, the person within the yellow jersey, who’s at house within the mountains, feels a bit sorry for them.
“They might want to survive, particularly the final time trial,” the UAE rider mentioned in his stage 16 press convention. “I hope the organisers will set a pleasant time restrict on the final TT, so the sprinters don’t should go full fuel on this time trial in Good. It’s a little bit of a disgrace that there’s no dash within the remaining for them, and right now was the ultimate dash stage. I feel it’s over for the inexperienced jersey. It’s a disgrace for them that they miss the Champs-Élysées. I hope the bulk received’t abandon after right now.”
It may very well be fairly the clock watch over the following few phases for most of the sprinters, none extra so than Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan), who’s aiming to complete his remaining Tour, however solely simply made the time lower on Sunday’s stage 15. As Pogačar mentioned, if the organisers aren’t type on this Sunday’s hilly time trial, there is perhaps a couple of folks outdoors the time restrict on the ultimate day.
For Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), winner of stage 16 and two different phases at this yr’s Tour, there’s motivation past simply ending – he’s nonetheless in rivalry for the inexperienced jersey, though he gave himself only a 5% probability of taking it off the shoulders of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty).
“I’ve to seek out some motivation and search for a motivation,” The Belgian mentioned of his try to finish the Tour. “After all, you wish to end the Tour de France. Additionally, should you’re nonetheless fairly near the inexperienced jersey, it’s an additional motivation to remain within the Tour. I’m glad we’ve got one other purpose, moderately than simply filling up the bunch.”
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If Philipsen is to problem for the inexperienced jersey, he’s going to should go after intermediate sprints, one thing made greater than a little bit bit troublesome by the presence of the Alps.
“I’m not having my greatest climbing legs, let’s say it like that,” Philipsen mentioned. “I undergo quite a bit within the mountains. Particularly the primary week. With the extent these days it’s actually laborious for us. I’ve to push my greatest numbers within the grupetto simply to be in time. In entrance, they race extraordinarily laborious. It’s not so good for us as sprinters.”
For Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility), veteran of 11 Excursions and third on stage 16, motivation will come from being in place for the remainder of the season, and, maybe extra crucially, having his youngsters with him through the time trial.
“I would like to seek out my legs from 2015, once I received Flanders, as a result of I may climb then,” the Norwegian joked. “It is a few years in the past.
“All the time earlier than you could have the Champs-Élysées you struggle for. And now, it is roughly only a coaching camp for sprinters. Possibly a couple of greater than typical can be stopping, however hopefully we may have some sprinters ending the Tour.
“Often I get fine condition after a Grand Tour, so for the remainder of the season it is a good suggestion for me to proceed.
“For me, it is boring [the time trial], however I will have my children, they’re going to be within the automobile cheering for me. I’ll struggle that I can expertise that. It is a small purpose.”
With no Champs to struggle for, solely respect for the Tour, it is perhaps troublesome to summon sufficient drive to get by way of what may very well be a number of the hardest days ever seen on the race – together with France’s highest street, the two,860-metre tall Cime de la Bonette. Nevertheless, the sprinters will strive. Take note of the race for the time lower day-after-day.
