Tim Merlier (Sudal Quick-Step) did not go far from the return home! It only remained 45 seconds to the Belgian sprinter to finish it if he wanted to complete the 13th stage of the Tour de France on time. Fortunately for the European champion, these deadlines were extended 9 minutes before the departure of the time trial, going from 33 % of the winner's time, at 45 %, which was not beneficial only for Tim Merlier. Indeed, Arnaud Demare (Arkéa B&B Hotels) or Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) could not have rally the arrival in Peyragudes if the initial deadlines had been preserved. A decision that did not please Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Leasea a Bike) that can be “disappointing”.
VIDEO – La Visma Butte again on Tadej Pogacar during the 13th stage
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“Just sign the starting sheet and you can start”
“The time trial has been working like this for months, with a time limit set at 33 %. And suddenly, ten minutes before departure, this limit was raised to 40 %. I find it really disappointing, especially since the conditions have not really changed” he explained to our colleagues The latest news. More Wout van Aert was also joined by some of his teammates Visma | Lease a Bikenotably Victor Campenaerts : “Why increase it even more? After all, it's the turn, the highest cycling level. We will end up saying:” If you are not eligible in the general classification or to the stage victory in such a race, just sign the starting sheet and you can start the next day. “”
In any case, this decision has made a happy one, Tim Merlierwho, thanks to this, will be able to continue his Tour de France : “I had a bad day and I couldn't follow my race plan. I might have been a little more gut and try to go faster. I really hope it was my only bad day”
