Correspondent
The envy, instinct and demon of the game remain the same.
But success no longer falls with the same regularity.
Julian Alaphilippe, stage winner in Nice (2nd stage) and wearing the yellow jersey for four days was still in the right place (a breakaway of 17 who had the freedom to express himself to go to the end) this Friday during the 13th stage (Châtel-Guyon-Puy Mary) won by Colombian Daniel Martinez (EF Pro Cycling), recent winner of the Dauphiné, ahead of the German duo Lennard Kämna-Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe): “It was a breakaway from strong, we hurt ourselves to get out.
"As a scout, the puncher of the Deceuninck-Quick Step team had Rémi Cavagna with him:" It was happiness, we are from the area, it was a real pleasure. "
Knowing the roads was not enough.
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Like, Thursday, towards Sarran (12th stage) when in the final he seemed to have mechanical problems before admitting "I had the impression that my bike was no longer moving but it was I who was no longer moving" , the puncher lacked momentum and spring.
The batteries were dead.
“It was a great day, very difficult.
A day like that, up front, for two, it's happiness.
There was no victory at the finish, but they started strong and held on.
When Schachmann attacked, he came out strong. ”
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And to admit, a handsome player (34th at 10'26 ''): “I tried, it doesn't always work.
Up front, they were very strong, there is no excuse to find.
It would be too good if I could follow all the time, attack, win… Retry?
Yes Yes…"
His Turn is not over.
The difficulties and the severe race by eliminations at the top can open up gaps for punchers like him who no longer presents the slightest danger in the general classification (35th at 1:13 '').
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