More than four riders in the race for Lotto-Soudal

Lotto Soudal saw two new riders come out of the Tour de France on Thursday.

The Germans André Greipel and Marcel Sieberg did not join the arrival of the 12th stage. After retiring from Tiesj Benoot and Jens Keukeleire in the first week, the Belgian WorldTour team can only count on four riders: Thomas De Gendt, Jelle Vanendert, Jasper De Buyst and Tomasz Marczynski.

Greipel released platoon wheels from the first kilometers of the Col de la Madeleine, first climb of the day. Escorted by De Buyst and Sieberg, he gritted his teeth to the Iron Cross Pbad where he finally dismounted with Sieberg. This is the first time that Greipel left the Tour on retirement in eight participations.

"The last three days have not been easy, it was too hard for me," says Greipel via the Lotto Soudal website . "I knew it would be difficult for me today, the only hope I had was that the peloton would stay calm on the first climb but that was not the case, and I soon realized that it would be the end. Some others would have chosen to hang on to the car, but I prefer to go home if I can not reach the finish with my own strength, I'm not sad but just a realistic and honest sportsman. "