Month: June 2021

June 30, 2021

Omar Fraile Drops Into Fulcrum as Cavendish Scores Second Stage Win

Omar Fraile Matarranz of Astana-Premier Tech fell seven positions from Stage 5 as numerous sprinters and their lead-outs moved slightly up in the standings during Stage 6, just far enough for him to land in the Point d’Appui.

Among the sprinters was an old guy from the Isle of Man who won his second stage of the race, rocketing into the lead at the last moment. Mark Cavendish won his 32nd Tour de France stage, closing within the record number of 34 held by Eddy Merckz.

Fraile, a mountain-climbing specialist, won the polka dot jersey in the Vuelta a España in 2015 and 2016, as well as stages in the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. It’s his first time at the fulcrum of Le Tour.

Ide Schelling of Bora-Hansgrohe has moved into the Lanterne Rouge, less than a minute behind the previous holder, Amund Grøndahl Jansen of Team BikeExchange.

Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Fenix remains in the yellow jersey.

June 30, 2021

Once a GC Contender, Woods Is New Point d’Appui for Tour

Michael Woods, the GC hope for Israel Start-up Nation, got caught up in the second crash of Stage 1, losing nearly 9 minutes on the leaders. In Stage 3, he came home another 2 minutes adrift, leading to his arrival at the fulcrum position by the end of Stage 4 of the 2021 Tour de France.

Woods said after the end of the stage that the peloton was united in a desire for safer races. He told Cyclingnews: “I think more can be done and I think we need to be united in the future and take a bigger stance. … I think we need to be more united and more courageous and take bigger stands in the future.”

Just outside Redon, the riders staged a ‘sit-on,’ coming nearly to a stop near the start to protest the dangerous crashes through the early part of the race.

The Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan, who went down hard at the end of Stage 3, did not start Stage 4, leaving 177 riders in the race.

Among them was the surprise winner of the stage, Mark Cavendish, the comeback quid. It was his first Tour de France win since the days when Donald Trump was still mostly known as a failure at building casinos, publicizing his college and giving to charities.

Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Fenix remains in the yellow jersey, and Amund Grøndahl Jansen of Team BikeExchange is the new Lanterne Rouge of the race, almost 36 minutes behind the leaders.

June 28, 2021

Chaotic Stage 3 Leaves 2021 Tour Still on Cusps

Hugo Houle of Astana-Premier Tech at 89th position and Nils Eekhoff of Team DSM at 90th moved into the middle of the peloton on Stage 3 of the 2021 Tour de France.

The race remained in les Cuspides after two more cyclists abandoned, again leaving an even number of 178 riders to finish on the day.

Three crashes near the end of the day left the barn door open for one of the few cattle still standing to amble through. Tim Merlier of Alpecin-Fenix one the stage.

Standings at the top of the general classification are the same but the bottom reflects a new Lanterne Rouge: Clément Russo of Team Arkea-Samsic, who was injured during the second big crash of Stage 1 with chest trauma and possibly broken ribs. Nevertheless he has continued forward.

Unable to finish the day were Robert Gesink of Jumbo-Visma and Jack Haig of Bahrain Victorious

June 27, 2021

Van der Poel Skips Ahead to Yellow Jersey; Midpoint Falls Into Les Cuspides

Only 180 riders started Stage 2 of the 2021 Tour de France, after Marc Soler of Movistar Team was unable to continue in the race. All 180 came safely home after two ascents of Mur-de-Bretagne, a steep but relatively short climb that Mathieu van der Poel owned.

With an even number of riders, there was no Point d’Appui awarded for Stage 2. Julien Simon of TotalEnergies in 90th place and Connor Swift (GBr) Team Arkea-Samsic shared les cuspides on the stage. Simon shared les Cuspides on Stage 3 of the 2018 Tour de France as well.

Tony Martin of Jumbo-Visma and Amund Grøndahl Jansen of Team BikeExchange shared the Lanterne Rouge with a time of 29 minutes and 46 seconds behind the leader, van der Poel, who due to time bonuses was able leap past Julian Alaphilippe and pull on the yellow jersey.

June 26, 2021

Wallays Takes Point d’Appui in First Stage of 2021 Tour

After two large crashes — one spectator induced and a second that occurred after a touch of wheels near the head of the peloton — three riders were unable to finish the day, leaving 181 finishers. The first Point d’Appui as a result is Jelle Wallays of Cofidis.

He has been riding professionally since 2011 with some success as part of a Belgian racing family. Wallays won the Paris-Tours Espoirs in 2010 and then the Paris-Tours in 2014 and 2019. He rode the Vuelta a España 2016 through 2019 for Lotto Soudal, winning Stage 17 in the 2018 edition. He finished as high as 92nd and down as far 144th. This is his first Tour de France.

Julian Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-QuickStep avoided the second crash and led a charge up the final uphill finish. Marc Soler of Movistar Team was the last rider to come home and holds the Lanterne Rouge.