Culoz (France) (AFP)
Egan Bernal, failing Sunday in the Grand Colombier, said he had "lost three years of his life" in the 15th stage of the Tour de France, which he finished more than 7 minutes behind the leaders.
Outgoing winner of the Tour, the young Colombian (23 years old) was taken out of the fight for the yellow jersey, still worn by the Slovenian Primoz Roglic.
"I have suffered since the first climb, I think I lost about three years of my life on today's stage," Bernal told reporters after the finish.
“I was going full blast hoping for a miracle, but that clearly didn't happen. I gave my all, I did my best and you have to accept when others are stronger. I couldn't do everything. just not follow them, ”he added sportingly.
Bernal did not want to justify his poor performance either by the back injury which caused his retirement in mid-August in the Critérium du Dauphiné: "Obviously, this is not the best way to start the Tour and j I had pain every step of the way. But I can't hide behind the back pain. Today it was more a pain in the legs than in the back. "
Asked about the possibility of getting on the podium in Paris, he was frankly pessimistic: "I don't think that's an option. Now I just want to get on the bus, rest, see what the team and rethink the race. "
Before the Alps, Bernal fell on Sunday from 3rd to 13th place in the standings, 8 min 25 sec from Roglic and nearly 7 minutes from Rigoberto Uran, new 3rd.
© 2020 AFP