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TOUR DE FRANCE - STAGE 4
GUILLAUME MARTIN, ACT 1
The leader of the Cofidis team was keen to show his enthusiasm since the beginning of the Tour de France. He showed it in a spectacular way this Tuesday, by attacking in the last meters of the 1st mountain stage. 3rd of the day, Guillaume Martin is now 5th in the overall classification.
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When the leaders had only 500 meters to go until the finish line Guillaume started the attack. It was a spectacular and decisive attack this Tuesday, on top of Orcières-Merlette. The result: a demonstration of strength and a 3rd place in the stage, behind Slovenian riders Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar.
Strong collective performance
This success is the success of the whole team and it comes from humble beginnings. Even before the final climb, Elia Viviani, Simone Consonni, Christophe Laporte and Pierre-Luc Périchon were in charge of the Cofidis leader. When the climb became steeper Nicolas Edet, best climber of the last Paris-Nice, tried to put Guillaume in a good position.
The performance of the rider from Normandy allows him to keep on climbing up in the general classification. He is now 5th overall, 13 seconds behind the yellow jersey, Julian Alaphilippe. From now on, the whole team will try to recuperate well.
Starting tomorrow, the stage that will lead the peloton from Gap to Privas will offer the sprinters a new opportunity to shine. Elia Viviani, Simone Consonni, Christophe Laporte and the whole team will do everything to be there in their best form.
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Guillaume MARTIN: "It sure didn't go far but I would have regretted not attacking in the 500 meters. I had to try most over my feelings were very good. After the lockdown, I passed a real turning point, I demonstrated it at the Critérium du Dauphiné and I can feel it again here. Being in the top on the first mountain stage of the Tour de France is very encouraging for the rest of the race. "
Cédric VASSEUR, general manager: “Guillaume has been performing great for several days now and he is keen to go on the attack. We had to be patient, especially since this Tour de France is a race by elimination. What was important today is to reassure and Guillaume had the legs to do it. We saw him alongside the best riders in the world. If we look at his evolution these last weeks, we can only be optimistic for the next stages of the competition.”
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"I am better than yesterday.”Anthony Pérez is recovering slowly from his injuries, the day after his crash in the 3rd stage, he remains under observation in the intensive care unit at the hospital of Digne-Les-Bains. Extensive examinations last night have diagnosed two broken ribs, a light pneumothorax, and three stitches in the knee and twelve in the back. Pérez doesn't hide his disappointment: " It's frustrating, especially since I had good perspectives in front of me on this Tour de France." He wanted to send a message of encouragement to all his teammates this morning. From today, Anthony is starting a minimum of 6 weeks of rehabilitation and should be back with his family and friends tomorrow.
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