Five ruined possibilities: how did Kristoff go wrong?

AMIENS: Disappointed, he takes the 6th place with the magnificent cathedral of Amiens in the background. Now Fernando Gaviria and André Greipel have been deported due to a messy bike in the spur and Kristoff took a fourth place in the eighth stage. Dylan Groenewegen won his second game in a row.

But by bike, and not least at the Tour de France, it is the winner who takes everything. Alexander Kristoff had before the world's greatest cyclist seen eight or nine steps that he could win. Now he ran five of them without winning.

Would like to be happy

He is disappointed but tries not to notice it although it is four years since the last time that he won a stage of the Tour de France.

– I try to do my best every time. If I'm lucky, I will, "he says, and he is aware that he has not given up.

The mood is always good.

– It was heavier last year. But then the atmosphere of the team (Katusha – journ.anm.) Was completely different. Here is a very good mood, but there may be some who have too much expectations for what I can do. I did not hit the guys who hit me here, so often, said Kristoff in the heat of Amiens on Saturday afternoon.

But no matter how much Stavanger wants to be positive at age 31, the facts reveal five disadvantages for the one who has great ambitions:

1. stage: 201 km flat (Saturday, July 7th)

Alexander Kristoff did what he had to do, but when everything was decided he was shameless. The talented Colombian Fernando Gaviria won the stage. He was also beaten by Peter Sagan and Marcel Kittel and became number four on the stage.

– I was stiff and I had nothing left to give, Kristoff said after this step. He was still optimistic as he had been in the final.

2. Stage: 182 kilometers flat (Sunday, July 8)

He was again in the final at the second stage, he looked like a winning opportunity . Again, it was impossible to beat the best. This time it was Peter Sagan who was the strongest in the race. Alexander Kristoff became number 5.

– I just did not have enough good legs at the end. I hoped it would be a little better today, but it was pretty much like yesterday, Kristoff sighed afterwards. stage: 195 flat kilometers (Tuesday, July 10)

Another step that should be a winning opportunity for the tournament. But again he failed in the spur. He was good, but did not have that little extra that made him one of the best spurters in the world 12 months ago.

– I felt a little better today, but I lost the rhythm in the middle of the spur. I did not take it anyway, he said, explaining something like the first steps.

7. Stage: 231 kilometers flat (Friday, July 13)

Kristoff's fourth chance for the stage victory. Neither this time he was in the position that he was supposed to be. And now he was completely shameless at the last few meters and finished in 13th place. Another who came to the Tour de France to win the spells succeeds for the first time. Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen wins.

– I should do better, but there's a big push here, Kristoff said afterwards.

8. Stage: 181 kilometers flat (Saturday, July 14)

Kristoff's teammate and United Arab Emirates team, Dan Martin, were punctured near the goal . In this way, the whole team had to come down to help and Alexander Kristoff had to do all the participation without the help of his teammates.

– I really did not ask. I'm not quite in the position, and it's hard to get it, "he said afterwards.

Three New Possibilities

Sunday is the ninth and final stage before the Tour enters the Alps. But Kristoff does not have the big opportunities he has to admit. So his next chance will be July 20 on a flat leg between the Alps and the Pyrenees. Then there is an intermediate stage in the Pyrenees which is flat. And finally the scene for Paris that ends everything.

If Kristoff wins, all the fourth and sixth places in France over the three weeks are forgotten.