Belgian veteran Philippe Gilbert is out of the Tour de France having fractured a knee in one of many dozens of falls that marked a slapdash stage 1 run across the rain-slick roads of Good. His loss is a double blow to the Lotto Soudal group as one other senior rider, John Degenkolb, was judged to have been too gradual by the race referees and was disqualified. Gilbert is a former world champion and has gained a number of main one-day races and had the honour of carrying the Tour de France yellow jersey.
“What a disappointment for us,” stated Gilbert, one in every of Belgium’s best-loved sports activities stars.
The Lotto captain joined the group this season and his loss damages the group’s Tour efforts, however Gilbert reserved his anger for the therapy of his teammate Degenkolb.
“John gave every part, however received zero respect from the commissaries,” he stated. “With the rain and all crashes, a minimum of he deserved extra respect.”
A number of riders have complained in regards to the race being too harmful on Saturday, and the Astana captain Miguel Angel Lopez was criticised for racing too aggressively, gamely attacking downhill within the rain earlier than smashing face-first right into a signpost.
However 2011 Tour de France champion Britain’s Bradley Wiggins informed any moaners to toughen up.
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“Racing is changing into extra aggressive and riders are prepared to take extra dangers as a way to get that win. It is a powerful sport in the event you do not prefer it, in all probability retire,” he stated on British tv.
Stage 1 of the tour was gained by Norwegian veteran Alexander Kristoff, who’s unlikely nevertheless to carry his general lead over the 2 class 1 mountains in Sunday’s foray into the low Alps.
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