TdF stage 15: Evenepoel wins, Vingegaard crashes out

 

On the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France, Remco Evenepoel beats Tadej Pogacar on the Plateau de Solaison. The stage is overshadowed by the withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard.

Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour de France on the approach to the Alpine climb of Plateau de Solaison, just hours being woken up in the early hours of Sunday morning to undergo doping controls. The Dane was tested at 2am by the ITA (International Testing Agency) and spoke about the experience before the stage began.

“I was sleeping very well, but somebody knocked on my door at 2am. It’s good that they test, but when it’s affecting performance and your sleep, I don’t think it’s so good.”

As the race progressed, Pogacar with Evenepoel and Del Toro moved to the front of the race on the steep climb, just as Vingegaard was stepping into the ambulance. Surprising, the four-time winner was unable to come past Evenepoel as the Belgian took the stage victory. 

The post-race fallout…

“I was asked to keep my opinion on this to myself, but this is a complete lack of respect for the riders. We are focusing heavily on recovery. That is hugely important, especially between two of the toughest mountain stages in this Tour. And then you get woken up at 2am. Than makes me really furious.”

-Matteo Jorgenson (Visma)

“They told me that it supposedly happened at two o’clock in the morning. That seems very strange to me, because that is not allowed according to the rules.”

-Remco Evenepoel

“You have to understand I’m racing with the best rider ever (Pogacar) and he has been doing a hell of climb to try and win the stage with Isaac. For me it’s a big step forward that I can follow this pace because it’s a really hard pace.”

-Remco Evenepoel