[ad_1]
Philippe Gilbert is a former world champion and has gained a number of main one-day races .© AFP
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 Nice. His loss is a double blow to the Lotto Soudal group as one other senior rider, John Degenkolb, was judged to have been too sluggish 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 sporting the Tour de France yellow jersey.
“What a disappointment for us,” mentioned Gilbert, certainly one 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 everything, but got zero respect from the commissaries,” he mentioned. “With the rain and all crashes, at least he deserved more respect.”
Several riders have complained concerning 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.
But 2011 Tour de France champion Britain’s Bradley Wiggins advised any moaners to toughen up.
Promoted
“Racing is becoming more competitive and riders are willing to take more risks in order to get that win. It’s a tough sport if you don’t like it, probably retire,” he mentioned on British tv.
Stage 1 of the tour was gained by Norwegian veteran Alexander Kristoff, who’s unlikely nonetheless to carry his total lead over the 2 class 1 mountains in Sunday’s foray into the low Alps.
Topics talked about on this article
[ad_2]
Source hyperlink