On this 5th stage of Tour of the futureconsidered the queen stage with his arrival at the top to tignes (26.2 km to 4.8%), lhe long-awaited Franco-Belgian duel took place, and he held all his promises. Finally, almost, because if the battle was exciting between the two nuggets Paul Seixas (France) and Jarno widar (Belgium), it was ultimately not the big tricolor favorite who had the last word, as announced since the departure of the event. A little just to make the difference and get rid of his Belgian rival, the 18 -year -old Lyonnais then underwent the famous punch of Widar In the last kilometer, the latter making his squirt speak to win with 5 seconds in advance on the winner of the prologue. Inevitably with angels after this success of prestige in the form of revenge on a 2024 edition which had turned to the nightmare for him, the leader of Belgium expressed all his joy in interview after the arrival.
“Every day is a battle, but not only with Paul Seixas”
“It is a big goal for me, after last year. I had been really disappointed. This time I really wanted to be in great shape and I think it is. So I'm happy to be able to win a step here. The guys did such a job to exhaust the peloton, it was the step that suited me best. At one point I even wondered if I did not get tired myself by taking the bar with the team. I am so grateful that people believe in me like that, and I am very happy to have been able to conclude in this way. Especially since we won by taking the initiative, controlling all day. We did things in our own way, according to our own plan“, he first delighted before returning to this final battle initiated by the big relay of the yellow jersey Maxime DECOMBLEfollowed by the big attack of Seixas.
“I managed. I was always afraid that he will give an attack. So I took a relay by putting myself 90 %. Finally, when I was able to come back to his level, I saw his face. I said to myself, “Maybe I have to try my luck.” But I was really afraid to put myself in the red at this altitude. Because I had already faced my own limits in the prologue in particular. I had exploded a little and I especially didn't want to relive this. I hesitated, I had given a lot to follow. But I saw that the reaction to attacks was no longer as lively. I told myself that the next one was the right one“He said. And he had seen right.
Now 5th of the general at 1'03 “of French Maxime DECOMBLEbut only 12 “of his rival Seixas, Jarno widar Projives on this last very special day divided into two very short stages: the 6A online with 42 km, and the 6b in chrono of 10 km as a climb. “”It's a little strange day. It will be finished very quickly. It will be directly. Every day is a battle, but not only with Paul Seixas“, He concluded.
