Tour de France, stage 13 – Jérôme Coppel «After a difficult first week, I found some good feelings» –

THE EXPLANATION

As given by Jérôme Coppel, who took a very strong 4th place in the first individual time trial of the 2016 Tour de France. “After a difficult first week, I found some good feelings again. I gave everything I had to achieve the best time I possibly could at the finish line, knowing that surely others would be faster. I was just missing four seconds for the podium. It’s infuriating, but I enjoyed myself even if the circumstances were far from happy ones in view of the tragedy of last night’s events. Now that the Alps are coming, and my family and fans are here to support me, I hope to be very much in evidence in the coming stages.”

THE QUOTE

“I gave everything, thinking of the victims in Nice,” said Stef Clement, who took 14th in today’s time trial. “It was not easy to concentrate, but France, the Tour de France, and we riders all had to show the perpetrators of vile acts like this that nothing will stop us.”

THE FACT OF THE DAY

A minute of silence was taken at the start of the stage and then again during, or rather in lieu of the awards ceremony in tribute of the victims of the massacre that hit Nice on the Promenade des Anglais Thursday night.

THE ANECDOTE

One second separated the arrival of IAM Cycling rider Reto Hollenstein (52nd) and Orica-BikeExchange rider Michael Albasini (53rd), who is the son of IAM Cycling trainer, Marcello Albasini.

THE WEATHER

The wind returned to play havoc with the day, offering gusts of well over 60km/h. Many riders suffered cold sweats. And the average speed of 44.776 km/h is testament to the violence of the elements.

THE ANALYSIS

From Rik Verbrugghe. “Jérôme Coppel missed just a little something to be on the podium. But his performance is encouraging for the future, just like Stef Clement’s escape on his way to fourth at Chalet Reynard. The only downside is that Mathias Frank has been suffering quite a lot for several days.”

THE MENU OF THE DAY

Before attacking the Alps next week, the sprinters have another chance with the 208.5 km stage racing from Montelimar to Villars-les-Dombes. Nevertheless, the wind is likely to continue to play tricks with the pack, and force the riders to work overtime.

Race Picture – BettiniPhoto