Pau, July 26th, ST18 - Everyone expected a bunch of sprints and so it was. The traditional finish in Pau has seen Sonny Colbrelli's fifth place. “You need also to be lucky - explains the Italian rider - you have to choose the best wheel and it can happen to make mistakes. In recent days, I spent a lot and today I was not 100%. Another Top Ten at this Tour, but today I hoped better. I will try again in Paris!”.
Despite the great heat (35°) and the tiredness of the third week of racing, it was pretty fast stage and, in the end, the French sprinter Arnaud Démare won.
SD Gorazd Štangelj: "After Vincenzo's abandon, our way of racing has changed. We are always ahead, but a victory would change the history of our Tour. There are only three stages left, but we continue to chase our dream and move forward".
Heinrich Haussler crashed in the first part of the race, but fortunately without particular consequences: "What happened? Some guys started to attack crossing the group and then few riders were braking and one in front of didn’t brake quick enough and so went down and I crashed on him”.
Tomorrow the last ascents are waiting for us. The stage number 19 will start from Lourdes to end in Laruns after 200km and between many famous climbs such as the Col d'Aspin (12km, 6.5%), Tourmalet (17km, 7.3%) and the Aubisque (16.6km, 4.9%) that will be overcome when the finish line will be missing about 20km.
(All pictures attached can be used for editorial and non-commercial use) - © Team Bahrain-Merida / @BettiniPhoto)
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