“It has been ten years that folks have been saying that I will win one, but it surely’s at all times the identical outdated music. It hurts,” the Lidl Trek runner, elected fighter of the day, didn’t conceal. “I attempted to search out the precise second to flee and I succeeded. However behind me, it was not watched sufficient. And with this headwind, there was no shelter…”
Lidl Trek goes on the offensive after Pedersen’s withdrawal
On the aspect of the sporting administration of the American workforce, which misplaced Mads Pedersen to retirement on Saturday morning, the time was clearly one in every of disappointment. “We’ve got skilled some reasonably difficult feelings these previous couple of days, Maxime Monfort, the sporting director, doesn’t conceal. Tactically, Jasper rode to perfection, as a result of within the dash, his victory was under no circumstances assured. Attacking was the precise thought and he missed 700 meters. Behind him, it didn’t appear like we hoped. We’ve got nothing to reproach ourselves for and it was nonetheless an excellent race on his half.”
This stage also needs to mark a tipping level for Lidl Trek on this 2024 Tour de France. “We’ve got to remobilize the workforce, as a result of it was constructed largely round Mads Pedersen,” Monfort continues. “The fellows chosen weren’t particularly supposed for an offensive position and now now we have to show to that. Jasper has proven the way in which.”
Within the absence of the Dane, who’s affected by minor accidents and will likely be match for the Olympic Video games, the workforce chief is now Giulo Ciccone. The 29-year-old Italian completed within the yellow jersey group on Sunday. And he’s at the moment 14th within the common classification, 5 minutes and 35 seconds behind Tadej Pogacar. “For the second, that is not the case, however we all know he has the legs to complete the Tour near a prime 5 and probably win a stage victory,” Monfort concludes. “And why not put on a brand new polka dot jersey…”
