Alexis Vuillermoz signed the first French victory in the Tour on Saturday , up the coast from Mûr-de-Bretagne, where the puncher of the AG2R La Mondiale team proved the strongest in the 8th stage.
100% Breton day was concluded without danger to the yellow jersey Chris Froome. However, the outgoing winner of the Tour, Italian Vincenzo Nibali dropped 10 seconds Columbia.
The success of Vuillermoz it was predictable?
His third Monday last at the top of the Mur de Huy, was premonitory value. The rider of 27 years joined the limited circle of the best specialists at its third season just in the professional peloton.
“This is a big climber-puncher,” said Thibaut Pinot (slightly outpaced all as Romain Bardet) about runner training AG2R La Mondiale, as explosive as in its humble start in life.
In his team Vuillermoz made unanimously by his human qualities and sense of collective, simplicity and determination. Came to the road by mountain biking, he believes he is still much to learn. But he learns (very) fast and well, as he excelled in his studies of economics and management.
At Mûr-de-Bretagne, after one side of two kilometers, sloping in its first half before a final faux-dish Vuillermoz maneuvered to perfection.
“I went out once on the steep part but I was marked by Yates and I did not wanted to take her to the finish line, “he explained. “When the peloton came back, I took the opportunity to take some air and I went.”
Froome, who was leading the group, did not react. Only Dan Martin had the resources to try the lawsuit. But the Irish, another true natural talent, had to resign themselves to second place.
The group of favorites, settled by the Spanish Alejandro Valverde before the Slovak Peter Sagan (now carrying the green jersey) , crossed the line 10 seconds after the winner.
“There are three, I never thought to win a Tour stage,” admitted Vuillermoz presqu’incrédule remembering difficulties overcome: the death of his father and other family members, the threat of unemployment after stopping his first team (Saur-Sojasun) in late 2013, the providential intervention of a patron, Daniel Germond, an entrepreneur retired from his department he warmly thanked after his victory.
Grand climber still evolving, Vuillermoz is also a great guy, said the staff of his team who has extended his contract several years.
Froome is it the favorite against-la- Team Time?
The British controlled the situation in Mûr-de-Bretagne. In line with a first week that smiled from beginning to end, except against the clock initial Utrecht (Netherlands) looked like a near draw between the favorites.
Froome can rely on several large rollers around him (Kennaugh, Door, Stannard, Thomas). Like the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Castroviejo, Dowsett, Malori Valverde). But the reigning world champion team is none other than the BMC of the American Tejay van Garderen, who won in addition the “chrono” the recent Dauphine.
“We leave with a real confidence, “says van Garderen whose position in the overall standings, 13 seconds of Froome, let him see a potential yellow jersey after the 28 kilometers against the clock by separating éaquipes Plumelec Vannes:” There always a chance. “
” The course is tricky because the road goes up and down all the time, “added Froome. “I expect substantial differences”.
If the Briton told the truth, the risk is high for the Italian champion Vincenzo Nibali, often thwarted since the start of the Tour and already placed against the wall. The Sicilian, the penalty on the steepest part of Mûr-de-Bretagne, gave worrying signs of weakness and his team Astana was overrun (Kangert 52nd, 56th Fuglsang).
“It was one day-no, “admitted the defending champion of the Tour. “I felt good early in the stage but in the end I did not feel anything, I had no legs.”
Positioned 1 min 48 sec Froome, Nibali n ‘ longer any room for error
7/11/2015 9:10:34 p.m. -. Mûr-de-Bretagne (France) (AFP) – AFP © 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment