Nimes (AFP)
A solo at high speed: the German Nils Politt won solo Thursday in Nîmes the 12th stage of the Tour de France, driven by a favorable wind, the day of the abandonment of his leader Peter Sagan.
From the start in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to the finish in Nîmes, the atmosphere has changed dramatically for the Bora team.
Before the start of this transition stage, without consequence for the yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar, she lost Sagan, knee blocked.
A little over three hours later, she celebrated her first success in this Tour.
Politt, a rider with a solid reputation in the peloton (2nd in Paris-Roubaix 2019) but with a very poor record until then, won for the first time in the Tour, at more than 47 km / h on average.
"It's a childhood dream to win a stage in the Tour de France", reacted the great German rider (1.92 m for 80 kg).
"We changed our tactics after Peter left. I felt good the last few days, I tried to give my best."
After a crazy start due to the strong wind, Politt found himself in a group of 13 riders formed after about fifteen kilometers.
"There were a lot of quick guys in the breakaway, I knew I had to ride hard and make the race difficult, then attack quite early," explained the first German winner in this 108th edition.
- Greipel's advice -
At 40 kilometers from the finish, Politt provoked the decision and took with him three riders (Sweeny, Erviti and Küng).
The quartet condemned the other members of the breakaway, including German sprint veteran André Greipel (38) and world champion Julian Alaphilippe, once again up front but without success.
# photo1
"I have to redo the cherry a bit", sighed the Frenchman, very prodigy of his efforts in this Tour.
The day before, he was already present at the front in the Mont Ventoux stage.
Politt made the difference at 12 kilometers from the finish, in power, on a rising false flat.
Neither Spaniard Imanol Erviti, a 37-year-old rider who is on his 12th Tour, nor Australian Harry Sweeny, a 22-year-old neo-pro, were able to oppose the German wheeler whose victory was rightly greeted by Greipel who even gave him some advice during the race: "The strongest of the breakaway won."
On the line, Politt preceded Erviti and Sweeny by around 30 seconds.
The native of Cologne had time to savor his success for his fifth participation in the Tour.
- The departure of Sagan -
Promised to the sprinters and to a possible 34th victory in the Tour of Mark Cavendish, the stage smiled on a striker.
Nothing surprising in the end in this Tour which crushes organisms.
As proof, the great Swiss rider Stefan Küng, present at the front, brutally paid for his efforts at the entrance of the last 15 kilometers.
# photo2
"I have not recovered enough from the last few days", admitted the European champion of the time trial.
"In the end, I had no more strength. My body set limits."
Sagan, for his part, threw in the towel.
The Slovak, who was recovering from his fall in the 3rd stage in Pontivy when he was dragged to the ground by the Australian Caleb Ewan, explained that he had a swollen knee following a new shock.
"I am unable to bend my leg," said the seven-time green Tour jersey, record holder for wins in the points classification.
Friday, the 13th stage crosses the South, from Nîmes to Carcassonne, on a plain course of 219.9 kilometers.
For the Briton Mark Cavendish, who settled the peloton arrived with a delay of more than a quarter of an hour, it is a new chance.
© 2021 AFP