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Peter Sagan took the lead of the Tour de France after a sprint victory in La Roche-sur-Yon after another eventful final that resulted in a major crash in the last corner and even more divisions on the field.
During the last half of the phase, the descendants were Adam Yates, although he recovered to join the pack. Chris Froome, meanwhile, one day after sneaking into a field, was this time on the bright side of the gaps and finished in the top group of 117 riders, including most of the leading contenders.
"Froome said of his spill on stage," so I'm glad I was not hurt anymore yesterday. For the future, the legs are good and I am optimistic about what will happen.
Froome's teammate, Luke Rowe, took a pragmatic approach when asked if the Froome crash had dented morale. "No one is dead, is not it?" He said. "We've just lost 50 seconds with a guy, I do not think it's necessary to have a dark mood, it's the race and it's going to happen."
The Prowess of Sagan in the upward sprints and his supernatural ability to stay standing shone as the pack entered the last kilometer, the triple world champion once again making its way into chaos, and others, including Fernando Gaviria, the leader. of the race, and Michael Matthews, the rival of the rival, collapsed.
Monday's 35.5-kilometer time trial, based on Cholet, offers Froome another chance, his team-mate Geraint Thomas, Sky's best rider, hoping to win the yellow jersey from race leader Sagan
"The goal is to win the stage," said Thomas, "this is the yellow jersey and some time in the standings. is going on like that, who knows, we will wait and see, but I think that the bu Not everyone will be the full gas. "
Team Sky Director Dave Brailsford has acknowledged that this will be the first big event of the Tour." It's there that you have to push the limits more than ever, "he said. stated. "But it's also technical, so you can not go wrong. The margin of error in terms of going too hard or making a slight technical mistake, you will pay mbadively.
"We have to get an absolutely perfect execution and to do that, you focus on the process and you do not worry about the outcome," he said. "But there is no doubt that there will be time saved and lost tomorrow, it is inevitable."
But for Mark Cavendish, a little dull, it's like his manager Doug Ryder said, "another missed opportunity". Cavendish is still far from the flying form that allowed him to win 30 stage victories in Tours' past, four tied to equal Eddy Merckx with 34.
"It's a False idea that a sprint day is an easy day. said on arrival. "There is more stress these days because everyone is there, while in the mountains, the climbers are in front and it's doing."
"There is a battle going on which is more stressful." says a year. "It takes energy, going back and forth, to focus.When it is the end, everyone is so tired, with mental fatigue, it is then that the accidents occur. "
1. Peter Sagan (SVK) BORA – hansgrohe 4:06:37 2. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) Bahrain – Merida 3. Arnaud Démare (FRA) Groupama – FDJ 4. André Greipel (GER) Lotto – Soudal 5. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Emirate 6. Timothy Dupont (BEL) Wanty – Gobert Group 7. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 8. Andrea Pasqualon (ITA) Wanty – Gobert Group 9. John Degenkolb (GER) Trek – Segafredo 10. Philippe Gilbert ( BEL) Quick-Step Steps +8 11. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Quick-Step Steps
It was asked if reducing the size of the team, from nine to eight, in Grand Tours, had allowed to secure the race, Cavendish says "not at all". Sagan shared the feeling. "Safety in the pack is about the riders, not the numbers," he said.
Slowly but surely, Cavendish's chances of getting closer to the Merckx record are dwindling. Asked Sunday if his form had improved, he said, "The results are wise, but I felt better today. It's easier said than done."
In the midst of accidents this spring, Cavendish struggled to form the entire season. His task during this Tour was made more difficult by the absence of longtime captain Bernhard Eisel, who is out of action after suffering a head injury in an accident this spring.
For now, his Dimension Data team supports him. "We are committed to Mark," said Ryder. "He's a great champion and the champions do not come overnight." Mark is determined to make this happen and to try to succeed as much as he can. to do a better job. "
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