2023-07-15 14:04:36
The start of the 14th stage of the Tour de France was marked by a major collective fall following only 5 kilometers of racing. This fall caused the abandonment of the South African Louis Meintjes and a long neutralization.
In a bend located a few minutes following the start, several dozen riders went to the ground on a wet road, including Louis Meintjes. The South African leader of Intermarché was 13th overall on Friday evening.
Meintjes was evacuated by ambulance with a suspected broken collarbone. Spaniard Antonio Pedrero also retired. Frenchman Adrien Petit, Meintjes’ teammate, was able to get up with an imposing calf bandage.
The management of the Tour neutralized the race, the time for the injured riders to be evacuated. This 14th stage marks the entry into the Alps and the start of an orgy of passes to decide between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, the 2 big favorites for the final victory.
Romain Bardet gives up
Twelfth overall, Romain Bardet was also forced to retire. The Frenchman suffered a fall in the descent of the Col de Saxel, the first difficulty of the 14th stage between Annemasse and Morzine. The Auvergne climber fell in a curve to the left at kilometer 25 of this stage. The 2nd in the Tour de France 2016 was able to get up but was unable to start once more.
ats/bur
EF team hard hit
The Nelson Powless polka dot jersey team EF took a heavy toll on Stage 14. Already deprived of its leader Richard Carapaz since the first day of the race, the team in pink once more lost Esteban Chaves following the collective fall which saw the abandonment of Meintjes and James Shaw, who fell with Romain Bardet. The EF team therefore has only 5 riders left in the race, the lowest number tied with Astana.
Tour de France 2023, the program
15.07 – 14th stage
Annemasse – Morzine The Portes du Soleil (152 km)
16.07 – 15th stage
Les Gets The Portes du Soleil – Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc (179 km)
17.07 – Rest at Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc
18.07 – 16th stage
Passy – Combloux (individual time trial), 22.4 km
19.07 – 17th stage
Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc – Courchevel (166 km)
20.07 – 18th stage
Moûtiers – Bourg-en-Bresse (185 km)
21.07 – 19th stage
Moirans-en-Montagne – Poligny (173 km)
22.07 – 20th stage
Belfort – Le Markstein (133.5 km)
23.07 – 21st stage
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Paris Champs-Elysées (115.5 km)
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