/nginx/o/2019/08/28/12508236t1hbf1b.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
On Thursday, cyclists had to complete the longest leg of the Tour de France – a distance of 218 kilometers with four categorized climbs. The stage was dedicated to the former French President Jacques Chirac, who died last autumn, and the legendary Tour de France legend Remon Pulidor, who was in the top three of the tour eight times, but never won. Today, cyclists went through his home region, while fans honored the cycling star of the last century with posters, inscriptions and environmental installations.
–
Shortly after the start, Neilands, who had experienced a fall in yesterday’s stage, tried to leave, but the Latvian failed to take the lead. However, a member of the Kuldīga team Nils Polits (“Israel Start-Up Nation”) took part in the attack, but together with the other refugees he failed to secure a significant advantage. The leaderboard was followed by a peleton, in which the “Bora-Hansgrohe” team again did a lot of work ahead, periodically joining other units as well.
–
The athletes who left the field were caught, but the last 28 kilometers were led by the 2018 U-23 world champion Hirsch, the Swiss winning a solo victory in the 12th stage of the first tour of his career. Hirši, 22, was in charge of much of the ninth stage on Sunday, but was caught one and a half before the finish and settled for third place.
–
Sunweb cyclist Hirshi crossed the finish line after five hours, eight minutes and 49 seconds in the distance. Second place winner Pierre Rolan from France (“B&B Hotels – Vital Concept p / b KTM”) lost 47 seconds to him, but five seconds later finished a group of six cyclists led by Danish Siren Krag Andersen (“Sunweb”).
–
Primožs Rogličs from Slovenia (“Jumbo-Visma”), the leader of the overall standings, finished in the group with the closest followers in the overall standings, so he maintained his lead and dominance. In turn, one of the leading athletes in the opinion of the King of Mountains, the Russian Ilnurs Zakarins (CCC), started with a broken rib and did not finish.
–
Neiland lost 16 minutes and 49 seconds, giving him 117th place, but Skujiņš (“Trek – Segafredo”) was 26 minutes and 25 seconds slower, finishing in 158th place.
–
In the overall standings, Roglich is 21 seconds ahead of his closest follower, Egan Bernal, from Colombia (“Ineos Grenadiers”), but Frenchman Martin Ciani (“Cofidis, Solutions Credits”) is another seven seconds behind. The herringbone loses an hour and almost 20 minutes, which gives it the 62nd place, but Neilands is in the 83rd position with a deficit of almost two hours.
–
In the King’s Test, Skujiņš has risen to the fourth place with 24 points, while Neilands is in the 29th position with two. In the sprinter test, Skujiņš with 47 points is in the 26th position, but Neiland has managed to score ten points, which allows him to take the 86th place.
–
For Neiland, this is his debut in France, but Skujiņš is participating in this competition for the third year in a row.
–
The Tour de France, which is rightly considered one of the largest sporting events in the world, is celebrating its 107th anniversary this year.
–
Last year, Skujiņš finished ninth in the 17th stage, but in 2018, he finished fifth in one of the stages, as well as rode in the mountain king’s shirt for several stages. Last year, Skujiņš finished in the 81st position in the overall rating.
–
The last time two Latvians were together in the “Tour de France” in 2002. At that time, Arvis Piziks and Raivis Belohvoščiks each rode in their team.
–
In total, the French tour is scheduled for 21 stages this year, finishing on September 20 in the Champs Elysées.
–
