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500 meters from the top of the Col de Joux Plane, one of the Slovenian’s attacks was blocked by the presence of two motorcycles on the road on Saturday during the 14th stage.
The duel between Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) could have taken a completely different turn without this racing incident. 500 meters from the top of the Col de Joux Plane, Saturday July 15 during the 14th stage of the Tour de France, the Slovenian placed an attack quickly aborted … by the presence of two motorcycles on the road. “Here, I fired a blank cartridge, that’s how it is”philosophized Tadej Pogacar on France 2, after the arrival of the race.
These two motorcycles, present on the road, prevented the Slovenian from continuing his effort. He was forced to pull over, and therefore could not widen the expected gap on his Danish rival. The number 2 in the general classification, 10 seconds behind Jonas Vingegaard, was also not helped by the very dense crowd present at the edge of the road reducing his room for maneuver. “These motorcycles should not have been there”lambasted the sporting director of the Emirati team Mauro Gianetti.
Motorcycles excluded for the 15th stage
One of these vehicles carried a press photographer. On the other, was a cameraman in charge of filming the international signal of the race – produced by France Télévisions – guaranteeing the retransmission of the Tour de France throughout the world. The people involved – driver and passengers – were excluded for the 15th stage on Sunday and fined 500 Swiss francs.
“If you put bonuses at the top of a pass, at least put barriers on the last kilometer and make sure that no motorcycle is on the road”pointed, meanwhile, on Twitter the former Belgian rider Thomas de Gendt.