Special envoy to Carcassonne
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The route of the Tour de France 2022
The general classification of the Tour de France
The last day of rest, Monday, before the dreaded crossing of the Pyrenees will not be too much to recharge the batteries of an exhausted peloton at the end of a fifteenth stage disputed this Sunday under a scorching heat.
The thermometer came close to 40 degrees between Rodez and Carcassonne on hot roads where the temperature exceeded 65°C.
"
I'm going to take a cold shower and sleep well for a long time
," explained Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), who took the time to spray Jasper Philipsen, the day's winner, at the finish with a bottle of water.
"
I'm going to stay in bed all day I think
," said the Belgian sprinter after his victory.
Read alsoThe Tour de France extinguishes the controversy over the watering of the roads in the middle of a heat wave
“
It was no picnic.
I had never known so hot.
I love my job but in these conditions, it's really very, very difficult.
I clung to the fact that tomorrow (Monday) was rest and that I was going to find my family in Carcassonne but otherwise it was really very complicated.
I had to drink 1.5 liters per hour.
So I had to drink 7 liters of water, I think
, "said Mikael Chérel (AG2R-Citroën), in a hurry to get back on his team's bus and take the direction of the hotel.
Cooling vests
But before returning to the air-conditioned rooms, the runners, some of whom are equipped with cooling vests intended to lower body temperature, will have to comply with the Covid-19 tests carried out by the race organization.
A last effort before the issue and a rest day, which, given the temperatures, will be without training for some teams.
“
For me, it will be without.
The last day of rest I didn't train either and I had good legs the next day
”, warned the winner of the day.
Read alsoSauna, refrigerated jackets… The tricks of the Tour riders to withstand extreme heat
Given the heat wave, the race management had taken exceptional measures to allow more supplies.
These were possible, from kilometer zero to ten kilometers from the finish line and the finish times had been increased by 20% regardless of the average speed of the race.