After having lived a dream opening weekend on this Tour de Francewith two victories and the yellow jersey to Jasper Philipsen Then Mathieu van der Poelthe team Alpecin-DECEUNINCK fell high this Monday on a 3rd stage which nevertheless seemed harmless on paper. Everything changed to 60 kilometers from the finish, during the intermediate sprint of Isbergues, the Belgian sprinter and carrying the green jersey being victim of a very heavy fall Who forced him to abandon, visibly very touched in the shoulder. Deprived of its number one asset for massive sprints, the training led by the Roodhoft brothers has tried to get back in working order for the final massive sprint, Kaden Groves taking 7th place. Not enough to save this black day for men in gray, even if Mathieu Van der Poel still logically keeps his yellow jersey.
VIDEO – Van der Poel's reaction when this 3rd stage arrives
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“It's not a happy day … all my thoughts go to Jasper”
The Dutchman has of course returned to this drama after arrival, in a protocol interview. “”Of course it's not a good day, all my thoughts go to Jasper. It is very sad and bitter to lose it today, and for the rest of the Tour de France. There is a good chance that he broke something. It was ambition to target the green jersey with him. It's not a happy day today. I think Kaden Groves will become the designated sprinter of the team. He has also shown in the past that he is able to win. Today, it was a bit hard to refocus after what happened, but we will do it in the days to come and we will fight for the victory with Kaden. The stage of tomorrow looks quite difficult. I hope to have good legs to try to impose myself and keep the yellow jersey. Will I try to fight for the green jersey? I don't think. It would be difficult for me to win it, since I have already missed some intermediate sprints and sprints. I will rather focus on the victory of another step“, the conclusion MVDP.
