Victor Campenaerts admitted it frankly in front of our camera this week. His battle with the time limit last Sunday in the stage to Tignes had “not gone quite by the book”.
The hour record holder indicated that he had been very thirsty in the last kilometers, an excuse not to say in so many words that he had let himself be driven towards the finish in the final phase (by his support car).
They are tricks that riders in the corner dare to grab. They have to hope that it goes unnoticed by the judges, but spectators also register what happens in the rear, of course.
YouTube phenomenon Bas Tietema was on the Mont Ventoux last Wednesday with supplies, but Nacer Bouhanni had no eye for that. The Frenchman made a lot of speed thanks to his support car.
The French turmoil of Arkéa-Samsic doesn’t have the best reputation because of its reckless sprinting behaviour. He reached Malaucène on Wednesday as 155th and penultimate of the pack, at 43’25” from stage winner Wout van Aert.
Soren Kragh Andersen finished last at 47’36”, just seconds before the time limit. Luke Rowe came out of time. Victor Campenaerts kept his promise not to cheat a second time and got off on the way.
It is not clear whether the images will have a tail. Bouhanni could suggest that the images are just a snapshot, but photos and comments were shared on Twitter about the maneuver.
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