Cycling: The ninth stage the Tour de France has claimed some prominent victims. Not just the terrible one Richie Porte (BMC) falls will be remembered, but also the end of Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo). Now a sprinter has also been hit: the French champion Arnaud Démare (FDJ) has to say goodbye to the Tour de France.
Time limit missed: Four FDJ drivers are out!
The winner of fourth stage didn't make it to the finish within the time limit today. Along with him, his three teammates Jacopo Guarnieri, Mickael Delage and Ignatas Konovalovas were also eliminated. They had supported Arnaud Démare throughout the stage. But they were left far too early and couldn't contain the gap. Arnaud Démare is actually considered a sprinter who can get over the mountains very well. However, the Frenchman is suffering badly from the heat, which is why he was already struggling the days before. Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors), Juraj Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe), Jos Van Emden (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) also missed the time limit today.
Michael S. says
The tour keeps what it promises - pure excitement!!! Unfortunately, I believe that the Tour winner is Froom again, as some have already been "eliminated", which is also due to Froom's physical fitness and physique. Of course, I'm not a fan of these narrow and dangerous descents either, but everyone has it in their own hands how fast they go down.
In my opinion, the exclusion of Sagan is something to be questioned and was not really necessary, because other measures could have been taken - but that's how it was decided.
What I really like are the comments from the individual drivers via social media. You can see what they really have to go through and how they suffer.
Big praise once again to the entire Eurosport commentators team, who make the tour a really exciting experience - even if you sit there for 5 hours!!!