Sometimes, despite the best possible preparation and the most elaborate plan, everything goes wrong.
This is what the FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope experienced on Monday July 25 between Meaux and Provins, during the second stage of the Tour de France Women.
(Un)fortunately, France 24 followed the team during this day.
"This stage is the typical stage where you cannot win the Tour but you can lose it", had warned, by way of briefing, Stephen Delcourt, the manager of the FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope team.
"When you play the general classification, there is no easy day."
Indeed, the stated goal of the FDJ for this Tour de France is the final victory – or at least the podium.
In the absence of sprinters in the team, on a flat stage like Meaux-Provins, the objective was therefore logically to protect the two contenders for the final general classification, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Marta Cavalli, to prevent them from don't waste time.
>> To read also: "Lorena Wiebes, gifted sprinter and first yellow jersey in the history of the Tour de France Women"
When briefing his riders, Stephen Delcourt points out two major dangers of this stage: an end lined with dangerous road developments and a wind that must make the peloton nervous, blowing up to 45 km/h and conducive to curbs.
The sequel will prove him right.
First of all, a point of explanation is necessary.
Cycling is an aspirational sport.
In other words, each runner has an interest in sheltering from the wind behind the one in front of her or within a peloton to save her strength.
We talk about edging or fanning, when a team is looking to take advantage of a crosswind or three-quarter face.
It will occupy the entire width of the road so that the rest of the peloton will be left without shelter.
In the absence of an immediate reaction, a rider can find herself detached from the peloton, lose the benefit of suction and thus be completely let go.
It was in particular misfortune that struck Frenchman Thibaut Pinot during the 2019 Tour, causing him to give up 1 min 40 on an ordinary flat stage.
What is a border?
The FDJ is not the only team to have anticipated the risk of a border and it is a peloton on the nerves which leaves Meaux.
With each change of direction, the reminders are numerous.
The first part of the stage, up to Maincy 75 km from the finish, is a blackboard for the French team.
The two teammates Marie Le Net and Vittoria Guazzini do not hesitate to move forward to create an edge by collaborating with the Trek-Segafredo team.
Rachel Neylan (Cofidis) and the Belgian champion Kim De Baat (Plantur-Pura) are victims of the maneuver for a time.
Marta Cavalli forced to abandon
After Maincy, the FDJ – like the peloton – breathes a little.
On paper, the edge risk fades.
However, the lull is short-lived.
An attack by the white jersey Maike van der Duin revives the nervousness and the French team pays the price.
24 km from the finish, Marta Cavalli, trailing at the back of the peloton, was caught in a fall.
As she avoids a runner on the ground, she is hit head-on by the Australian champion, Nicole Frain (Parkhotel-Valkenburg).
She will leave with difficulty before finally giving up.
This fall is chilling.
The nose in the handlebars, arrival full bullet and which mows down Cavalli almost at a standstill … #TDFF pic.twitter.com/Jk3bZcmWpX
— In the Musette (@DansLaMusette) July 25, 2022
"We can't explain everything in a fall. Admittedly, she is not very well placed but she is often afraid to rub [to stay placed at the head of the peloton, NLDR]. She prefers to ensure. Behind, it's a lack of professionalism of the Australian champion who arrives at 60 km / h without raising her head", analyzes a posteriori Stephen Delcourt.
"The images are really horrible. Our sport is very dangerous and this kind of fall worries me a lot."
"She wanted to continue but the team said no: we don't want to play with the lives of our riders," said Stephen Delcourt.
The first analyzes will prove him right: the player suffered a concussion.
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Évita Muzic also on the ground
However, the FDJ is not at the end of its troubles.
A few kilometers later, it was the turn of its other leader, the Danish Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, to find herself in a crash.
As agreed, her teammates Marie Le Net, Vittoria Guazzini and Grace Brown are waiting for her and doing their best to bring her back into the peloton.
Despite their efforts, she spends 1 min 48 on the big winner of the day, Marianne Vos, and 1 min 10 on the peloton.
What already mortgage his chances of a final podium.
"We saw a united team at that time but we fell at the worst time", deciphers the manager of the team.
"We should have had luck on our side but that was not the case today."
Even Evita Muzic, the only rider of the team left in the peloton, is contaminated by the bad luck of the team.
She in turn fell in the end of the stage but was fortunately rescued in the time of the peloton, the incident having occurred in the last three kilometers.
On arrival, it is obviously the grimace soup that predominates.
The riders rush quickly to their bus while Stephen Delcourt takes care of the team's crisis communication.
"The priority is Marta's health. We're going to make sure she's fine. We're going to make sure that everyone is fine. We have a team of champions capable of bouncing back," he repeats. it at will.
"We will analyze and see if the objectives will change. We still have six stages to succeed in our Tour by making history."
Medical information / Medical statement#TDFF #stage2 pic.twitter.com/nevNjzSLGH
- FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope (@FDJ_SUEZ_Fut) July 25, 2022
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