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Geraint Thomas left his bike in Carcassonne and breathed a sigh of relief after surviving another day in the yellow jersey of the Tour de France management.
Monday is a day of rest and with three Pyrenean stages now drawing Welsh plans spend most of the day, apart from a brief 90-minute ride, lying in bed. "Every day in the pack is stressful," said Thomas, "it's nice not to fight for a day."
Aside from the usual flow of boos, the 15th stage went off without a hitch. In front of Thomas and the other leading contenders, a breakaway crowned by the victory of Denmark 's Magnus Cort Neilsen in his first Tour de France, and a successful weekend for his team from Astana, who also won the title. Saturday stage in Mende
. still the atmosphere on the road towards Thomas and his fellow Sky team members was poisonous. Other French media critics have been raining on Sky this weekend, targeting in particular Thomas and teammate Chris Froome.
"This is not a good situation because it's a highlight of my career," Thomas said of continued hostility towards him. "It's a huge honor and a privilege to wear the jersey and it has been an incredible race to date.There has obviously been a bit of negativity that's not nice, but you have to stay strong in his head and crack
"The way I see it, I prefer to be in this jersey, have the race of my life"
Meanwhile, the result of the race is still at stake , but the home reception to the prospect of another successful Team Sky is no longer in doubt. Indeed, two races are running side by side, one focusing on leadership intrigues at Team Sky and the other arguing that this Tour, tinged with suspicion and hostility from the spectators, represents a new low point of the popularity of the race.
While the French television coverage keeps the myth of camaraderie and celebration alive, the Twitter feeds of the great riders tell a different story, as do the TV ratings down
"What I saw fans during the final climb Team Sky was shameful, "said Australian Luke Durbridge after Saturday's stage in Mende when Froome was covered with a liquid unknown. "If you do not like cycling, do not come looking."
Yet, in the wake of the World Cup of France, the Tour, pursued for so long by his "problems", became the whip. The resentments that were once murmured are now thrown on the face of Team Sky. Even before the start of the race, 55% of the French thought that the presence of Froome on the race was "not normal" even after being cleared by the UCI.
In January, anti-Froome sentiments were even stronger. more than 87% of French people are in favor of a sanction against Froome for his salbutamol case. The television ratings also reflect this disenchantment, with the scene of the Bastille July 14 which reached its lowest level in 10 years. "We obviously prefer that everyone loves us," says Thomas, "but I'm not sure it's something we did – or especially that I did – to deserve it. , and it's perhaps a reflection of how we are perceived in the French media. "
The first Pyrenean stage of Tuesday will surely test the legs of all the major competitors, but that's all. is the A 65-kilometer mountain stage up to the Col du Portet on Wednesday is most likely to turn the screw.
"Of course, these are difficult steps," Thomas said. "A lot can still happen, I'm expecting a big fight on Tuesday and a few long-range attacks." The 65km stage is up, down, and up, so it's two o'clock and half full gas race
"I could seem close to Paris in a few days, but look at all the climbs and races we have to do. So, I keep my feet on the ground. There are three big days ahead. "
There was little real action among the favorites on the road from Millau to Carcassonne, beyond a secluded outing of Dan Martin and a rushing move on the descent of the Pic de Nore from Romain Bardet
Thomas was dismissive of Martin's attack. "It was 40 km from the summit but it really did not make much sense. The wind was not enough to do anything but it was a little stressful.
"Bardet tried the descent, which was a little crazy, we just made sure we were in front, the last 15 kilometers were a bit windy, but we were still in the right place."
" Days like today, you want to try to recover as much as possible, "said Thomas, while insisting on that final victory – Paris had not crossed his mind." I take it day after day and I'm just worried about the next step, the next climb and continue. "
– Guardian
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