Tour de France 2022: Jonas Venegaard and Jumbo-Visma heat stroke in Carcassonne

On the tour, the day of rest is often the laundry day for the followers. On the Jumbo-Visma side, the machine should be running from the evening of Sunday, July 17. Jonas Weinggaard has a yellow shirt to wash. The Dane arrived at Carcassone (Aude) with a large black spot on his left shoulder, as a result of a 57 km fall from the finish in 15^e Stage won by Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Dekoninck) in the race.

Vingegaard and his team may have other concerns than the correct wash cycle to adopt. We’re feeling a bit rambling, but transitions are a thing of the past, like the RMO T-shirts, sausage helmets, Antenne 2 logo and French in yellow on the Champs-Elysees.

Between Rodez (Aveyron) and the foot of the “Carca” ramparts, 202.5 km away, the Dutch formation was subjected to several heat strokes, and mercury – not deciding to drop below 38 ° C on the roads of the country of the fortresses of Planeta and Cathar – is not the only one responsible. Perhaps Wout van Aert isn’t even warm yet after six kilometers, he had the funny idea of ​​accompanying German Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Dane Mikkel Honoré (Quick-Step) on a 38-kilometre hike before being reminded in the headset.

Green jersey (still fresh enough to finish 2^e) doesn’t know yet, but he may have to watch his unnecessary effort consumption in the past week. Indeed, the rest of the day will turn to carnage in order to train him. multiply by 5^e The stage, Primus Roglic ended up throwing in the towel. Although the martyrdom of the back (“I feel like I’m getting stabbed with every turn of the pedal”), Slovenian turned into a dedicated and efficient team member.

64 kilometers from Carcassonne, Stephen Kruesvik savors burnt macadamia without asking. Wounded in the right shoulder, the Dutchman surrendered and Vingegaard lost his favorite lieutenant in the mountains. and two. In his ordeal and downfall soon after, the Dane was accompanied by Tiesj Benoot. Handyman at Jumbo, the Belgian stayed on the ground for a moment before getting back on his bike and ending this stage of pain.

If the former DSM departs on Tuesday, after the day off, Jonas Venegaard will rely on five of his teammates, such as Tadej Pojjakar, whose UAE team has remained at six since George Bennett and Wiggard Steak Langen retired due to Covid. The director of the Emirati formation, Mauro Gianetti, commented on the rebalancing of the forces with a particular division. “I think the battle is between the general classification riders, and it will take legs: it will be Vingegaard, Thomas, Bardet, Gaudu, Yates… it will be between them and I don’t think it will make a difference”As the Swiss say.

“One day we’ll be driving at 45°C, 50°C, maybe 60°C…”

Perhaps, but on the side of Jumbo-Visma, anxiety appeared profusely. Jonas Weinggaard sent his press conference in a minute. “I have some sores on my left side, I have a little pain, but I woke up very quickly, I hope things are ok”wants to believe. For his French teammate Christophe Laporte, this Black Sunday compels the Dutch squad ‘to be more united’. “We had a very strong squad and I think we can still absorb things. We will do our best, Jonas is very strong”Varois argues.

But the Dane risks a bad sleep, as on the evenings of an autumn day. A heat wave shouldn’t help him sleep. In the end, some runners had big and hot on the fries. “There are red alerts in the area, but we are still operating, Arkea-Samsic sprinter Hugo Hofstetter hits. We are, a bit, who accept that. And if we accept that, one day we’ll be driving at 45°C, 50°C, maybe 60°C… After that, it’s like that, there’s no choice. »

Today he could have rebounded with a French victory. Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) and Alexis Jugerd (B&B-KTM Hotels) were knocked out in the final, the former only being crushed by Peloton within 500m of the line. “I was really burned out at the end, and I had stars in my eyes”Thomas admitted on the France 2 microphone.

The track specialist lamented not being able to count on Gougeard’s help until the end, but in his defence, the latter was a bit overheated. “We were getting very hot. I often looked at the scale at 41°C, 42°C. You really had to eat and drink and don’t forget to eat too. I don’t know how many cans we drank during the day, but it’s huge”Norman notes.

A few meters from him, Tom Bedcock (Ineos Grenadiers) rushed into the Carcassonne Fountain just as quickly as he had on his descent from the Galibier. The Brit walked out with his shorts wet, but almost fresh.