A queen step that took a long time to take shape. Highly anticipated, the 17th stage of the Tour de France did not make the crowds get up. But that was before the last climb of the day. That of the Col de la Loze. 28 kilometers of climb, 6% average.
A Col de la Loze which has delivered all its verdicts. Tadej Pogacar cracked 15 kilometers from the finish. The French, present in number in the breakaway, were quickly left behind. Eight kilometers from the finish, while he could still aim for the stage victory, Jonas Vingegaard suffered a new incident because of a motorcycle.
Several riders, including the yellow jersey, or even Thibaut Pinot, revolted after the race (“a motorcycle could have fallen on me”), were hampered in full ascent. A two-wheeler would have stalled in a hairpin bend, made very narrow by the (too?) numerous public at this point in the race. Several vehicles stopped, including the Tour de France car. The Groupama-FDJ rider would have lost 30 seconds.
Still, this incident was sanctioned. The jury of marshals therefore imposes a sanction on motorcycle no. 312 for “non-compliance with the press specifications before the summit of the Col de la Loze”. Joël Charly, pilot, as well as Thomas Voeckler, manager of the French team and commentator for France Télévisions, will not be at the start of the 18th stage this Thursday. They were also fined around 520 euros each.
