{"id":2039919,"date":"2026-07-12T16:27:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T13:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2039919"},"modified":"2026-07-12T16:27:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T13:27:57","slug":"i-couldnt-change-gear-tom-pidcock-explains-electronic-shifter-issues-that-hampered-sprint-from-tour-de-france-breakaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2039919","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t change gear&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock explains electronic shifter issues that hampered sprint from Tour de France breakaway"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-2500-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sGA3QBmZQ8wsk8qq2kpxiJ-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sGA3QBmZQ8wsk8qq2kpxiJ-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Jonas Vingegaard avoids Tour de France disaster, scrambles to finish on teammate&#8217;s bike after late crash chaos\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/J6Q2Xhyw4tnatsz4rBNvHd-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/J6Q2Xhyw4tnatsz4rBNvHd-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    As it happened: Another bunch sprint decides stage 8 of the 2026 Tour de France after breakaway rider caught in final 2km\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qEZWTjykHLMAPBfGicedSZ-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qEZWTjykHLMAPBfGicedSZ-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    As it happened: Flat stage 7 of the Tour de France finishes in a bunch sprint\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nPinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTom Pidcock\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t change gear&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock explains electronic shifter issues that hampered sprint from Tour de France breakaway<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nJames Moultrie <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-12T16:27:57Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n12 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I would have come around him anyway&#8217; Brit concedes after taking third behind Mathieu van der Poel in Ussel, but takes positives from strong ride in break<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Pidcock finished third in Ussel<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-808e4602-7e0a-11f1-b173-9d6cb713b98c\">Pinarello Q36.5&#8217;s Tom Pidcock was hampered by a jammed shifter in the breakaway sprint for victory on stage 9 at the Tour de France on Sunday, explaining that he had to go without his normal shifting method against stage winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech).<\/p>\n<p>The team later explained that a small piece of asphalt, mixed with bitumen, somehow became lodged inside the right-hand lever, preventing it from making the normal movement required for shifting.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-808e4602-7e0a-11f1-b173-9d6cb713b98c-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Brit made it into the breakaway of the day, which formed after 50km of all-out racing heading out of Malemort, and was well in the running for the win after cresting the final categorised climb with the three other strongest riders in the move: Van der Poel, Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility)<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel 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whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But it looked as though bad luck would ruin his day, when he was shown on the TV broadcast to be aggressively waving his hand due to a mechanical. Pidcock kicked at his rear derailleur, but said after the stage that this didn&#8217;t actually fix things, instead having to use the satellite shifter on the inside of his handlebar hoods.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Once it became clear the four in front would hold off the charging peloton, Pidcock focused fully on the sprint and moved his hands to the drops, forgetting his usual level shifting wasn&#8217;t working. Unable to change gear instantly, he couldn&#8217;t match Van der Poel, who scorched to the line in Ussel.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You just want to bury yourself in a hole and hide away&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock&#8217;s Tour de France hopes dashed amid Tourmalet torment<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve done such a hard race in such heat before&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock unable to challenge in punchy Tour de France finale after being &#8216;cooked&#8217; by searing temperatures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;On the climb there, my shifter stopped working and I couldn&#8217;t change gear, and then I realised I couldn&#8217;t only change on the top. But then in the sprint I was focusing so much on the sprint and I was in the drop, and that bottom [shifter] wasn&#8217;t working and I started sprinting and I couldn&#8217;t change gear, so then I had to go on my hoods,&#8221; explained Pidcock at the finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong. My bike works perfect the whole race and then today when the win is there, it doesn&#8217;t work. The shifter, the button doesn&#8217;t work, only the top one, so I don&#8217;t know.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t fix it with the kick; that didn&#8217;t do anything. It&#8217;s just the buttons; only the one on the bottom works.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Though of course disappointed, this was far from the angry Pidcock seen after past defeats. He arrived back at the team bus some time later on teammate Quinten Hermans&#8217; bike and looked anything but upset. With more clarity and time to assess, he explained his account of the shifter incident again.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I was going super well today, I had really good legs, and was feeling strong. If I compare it to the last time I was in the breakaway in the Tour de France on the gravel stage [in 2024], today I was really in the game in the breakaway,&#8221; explained an upbeat Pidcock to reporters at the team bus.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I was alone&#8217; \u2013 Door open for next Tour de France sprints with speed, but not luck, on Tim Merlier&#8217;s side in Pau<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Mentally, it&#8217;s super challenging&#8217; \u2013 Despite successful comeback from ravine crash, Tom Pidcock still isn&#8217;t back at his best ahead of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I lacked that extra punch&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel blames long period away from racing for lack of sprint on Tour de France stage 3 uphill finish<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So it definitely shows that my level is higher, but then in the final, my shifter stopped working. So I was out the back of the group over the last climb, then I realised this top button was working,&#8221; he added, demoing a gear change to the gathered press in front of him, &#8220;but then once I got to the sprint I was focused, then I was instinctively on the drops, and I couldn&#8217;t change gear anymore.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Then I had to go on the hoods. So it&#8217;s a shame, but I tried to just let Mathieu lead the last kilometre. Obviously, he was the fastest in our group, so he would need to go early if the bunch was coming, but they were not close enough, so in the end it was a short sprint, and I don&#8217;t think I would have come around him anyway.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Pidcock had been struggling so far in his first Tour de France with Pinarello Q36.5, already out of the GC race and having been forced to admit he had missed some preparation. Although it wasn&#8217;t the win today, this performance points to the Brit rediscovering his best form and with plenty of transition stages coming in the second week, he will be eyeing his first win at the Tour since Alpe d&#8217;Huez in 2022, before returning to the iconic climb twice in the third week.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not so disappointed. Mathieu will be very hard to beat in those situations, also obviously I do what I can. I&#8217;m quite happy, I&#8217;m just pleased that I could change gear in the end, and that I was in the [breakaway]. At least I was there sprinting for the win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr id=\"elk-808e4710-7e0a-11f1-a075-eb2e79e0ae14\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<p id=\"elk-808e4788-7e0a-11f1-9fc8-7710d9b66f9b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><u><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">James Moultrie<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">News Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined\u00a0Cyclingnews\u00a0as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d\u2019Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport\u2019s top riders in Chlo\u00e9 Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports \u2013 rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You just want to bury yourself in a hole and hide away&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock&#8217;s Tour de France hopes dashed amid Tourmalet torment<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve done such a hard race in such heat before&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock unable to challenge in punchy Tour de France finale after being &#8216;cooked&#8217; by searing temperatures<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I was alone&#8217; \u2013 Door open for next Tour de France sprints with speed, but not luck, on Tim Merlier&#8217;s side in Pau<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Mentally, it&#8217;s super challenging&#8217; \u2013 Despite successful comeback from ravine crash, Tom Pidcock still isn&#8217;t back at his best ahead of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I lacked that extra punch&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel blames long period away from racing for lack of sprint on Tour de France stage 3 uphill finish<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The Tour is daunting, but we&#8217;re in the fight&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France &#8216;newbies&#8217; Caja Rural-Seguros RGA push hard to justify wildcard status<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We wanted to calm things down&#8217; &#8211; UAE team management justify the decision to keep Tour de France stage 9 break on ultra-tight leash<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I would change the whole calendar&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France leader Tadej Poga\u010dar argues for an end to summer racing in places with intense heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Thanks to the GC contenders for this respect&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar says agreement has been reached by favourites to sit at the back and stay safe on Tour de France sprint finishes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s clear that he hesitated after not winning yesterday&#8217; \u2013 Alpecin say no need for panic yet at Tour de France despite another sprint loss for Jasper Philipsen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Not really proud&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France heartache for Liam Slock as attempt to upset the sprinters with 40km solo just falls short on stage 8<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The Tour is daunting, but we&#8217;re in the fight&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France &#8216;newbies&#8217; Caja Rural-Seguros RGA push hard to justify wildcard status<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We wanted to calm things down&#8217; &#8211; UAE team management justify the decision to keep Tour de France stage 9 break on ultra-tight leash<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I would change the whole calendar&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France leader Tadej Poga\u010dar argues for an end to summer racing in places with intense heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Time limit extended on Tour de France stage 9 as CPA says &#8216;start times must evolve in order to protect athletes&#8217; health&#8217; amid extreme heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The three or four richest teams hoover up all the best young riders&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France director backs salary cap for professional cycling<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Not a lot of other things they can do&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France stage winner Merlier welcomes shortening of stage 9 amid extreme heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;We wanted to calm things down&#8217; &#8211; UAE team management justify the decision to keep Tour de France stage 9 break on ultra-tight leash<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I would change the whole calendar&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France leader Tadej Poga\u010dar argues for an end to summer racing in places with intense heat<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t change gear&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock explains electronic shifter issues that hampered sprint from Tour de France breakaway<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Time limit extended on Tour de France stage 9 as CPA says &#8216;start times must evolve in order to protect athletes&#8217; health&#8217; amid extreme heat<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nPinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTom Pidcock\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t change gear&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock explains electronic shifter issues that hampered sprint from Tour de France breakaway<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nJames Moultrie <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-12T16:27:57Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n12 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I would have come around him anyway&#8217; Brit concedes after taking third behind Mathieu van der Poel in Ussel, but takes positives from strong ride in break<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Pidcock finished third in Ussel<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-808e4602-7e0a-11f1-b173-9d6cb713b98c\">Pinarello Q36.5&#8217;s Tom Pidcock was hampered by a jammed shifter in the breakaway sprint for victory on stage 9 at the Tour de France on Sunday, explaining that he had to go without his normal shifting method against stage winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech).<\/p>\n<p>The team later explained that a small piece of asphalt, mixed with bitumen, somehow became lodged inside the right-hand lever, preventing it from making the normal movement required for shifting.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-808e4602-7e0a-11f1-b173-9d6cb713b98c-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Brit made it into the breakaway of the day, which formed after 50km of all-out racing heading out of Malemort, and was well in the running for the win after cresting the final categorised climb with the three other strongest riders in the move: Van der Poel, Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility)<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel 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whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But it looked as though bad luck would ruin his day, when he was shown on the TV broadcast to be aggressively waving his hand due to a mechanical. Pidcock kicked at his rear derailleur, but said after the stage that this didn&#8217;t actually fix things, instead having to use the satellite shifter on the inside of his handlebar hoods.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Once it became clear the four in front would hold off the charging peloton, Pidcock focused fully on the sprint and moved his hands to the drops, forgetting his usual level shifting wasn&#8217;t working. Unable to change gear instantly, he couldn&#8217;t match Van der Poel, who scorched to the line in Ussel.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You just want to bury yourself in a hole and hide away&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock&#8217;s Tour de France hopes dashed amid Tourmalet torment<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve done such a hard race in such heat before&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock unable to challenge in punchy Tour de France finale after being &#8216;cooked&#8217; by searing temperatures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;On the climb there, my shifter stopped working and I couldn&#8217;t change gear, and then I realised I couldn&#8217;t only change on the top. But then in the sprint I was focusing so much on the sprint and I was in the drop, and that bottom [shifter] wasn&#8217;t working and I started sprinting and I couldn&#8217;t change gear, so then I had to go on my hoods,&#8221; explained Pidcock at the finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong. My bike works perfect the whole race and then today when the win is there, it doesn&#8217;t work. The shifter, the button doesn&#8217;t work, only the top one, so I don&#8217;t know.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t fix it with the kick; that didn&#8217;t do anything. It&#8217;s just the buttons; only the one on the bottom works.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Though of course disappointed, this was far from the angry Pidcock seen after past defeats. He arrived back at the team bus some time later on teammate Quinten Hermans&#8217; bike and looked anything but upset. With more clarity and time to assess, he explained his account of the shifter incident again.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I was going super well today, I had really good legs, and was feeling strong. If I compare it to the last time I was in the breakaway in the Tour de France on the gravel stage [in 2024], today I was really in the game in the breakaway,&#8221; explained an upbeat Pidcock to reporters at the team bus.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I was alone&#8217; \u2013 Door open for next Tour de France sprints with speed, but not luck, on Tim Merlier&#8217;s side in Pau<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Mentally, it&#8217;s super challenging&#8217; \u2013 Despite successful comeback from ravine crash, Tom Pidcock still isn&#8217;t back at his best ahead of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I lacked that extra punch&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel blames long period away from racing for lack of sprint on Tour de France stage 3 uphill finish<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So it definitely shows that my level is higher, but then in the final, my shifter stopped working. So I was out the back of the group over the last climb, then I realised this top button was working,&#8221; he added, demoing a gear change to the gathered press in front of him, &#8220;but then once I got to the sprint I was focused, then I was instinctively on the drops, and I couldn&#8217;t change gear anymore.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Then I had to go on the hoods. So it&#8217;s a shame, but I tried to just let Mathieu lead the last kilometre. Obviously, he was the fastest in our group, so he would need to go early if the bunch was coming, but they were not close enough, so in the end it was a short sprint, and I don&#8217;t think I would have come around him anyway.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Pidcock had been struggling so far in his first Tour de France with Pinarello Q36.5, already out of the GC race and having been forced to admit he had missed some preparation. Although it wasn&#8217;t the win today, this performance points to the Brit rediscovering his best form and with plenty of transition stages coming in the second week, he will be eyeing his first win at the Tour since Alpe d&#8217;Huez in 2022, before returning to the iconic climb twice in the third week.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not so disappointed. Mathieu will be very hard to beat in those situations, also obviously I do what I can. I&#8217;m quite happy, I&#8217;m just pleased that I could change gear in the end, and that I was in the [breakaway]. At least I was there sprinting for the win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr id=\"elk-808e4710-7e0a-11f1-a075-eb2e79e0ae14\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<p id=\"elk-808e4788-7e0a-11f1-9fc8-7710d9b66f9b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><u><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">James Moultrie<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">News Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined\u00a0Cyclingnews\u00a0as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d\u2019Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport\u2019s top riders in Chlo\u00e9 Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports \u2013 rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You just want to bury yourself in a hole and hide away&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock&#8217;s Tour de France hopes dashed amid Tourmalet torment<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve done such a hard race in such heat before&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock unable to challenge in punchy Tour de France finale after being &#8216;cooked&#8217; by searing temperatures<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I was alone&#8217; \u2013 Door open for next Tour de France sprints with speed, but not luck, on Tim Merlier&#8217;s side in Pau<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Mentally, it&#8217;s super challenging&#8217; \u2013 Despite successful comeback from ravine crash, Tom Pidcock still isn&#8217;t back at his best ahead of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I lacked that extra punch&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel blames long period away from racing for lack of sprint on Tour de France stage 3 uphill finish<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The Tour is daunting, but we&#8217;re in the fight&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France &#8216;newbies&#8217; Caja Rural-Seguros RGA push hard to justify wildcard status<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We wanted to calm things down&#8217; &#8211; UAE team management justify the decision to keep Tour de France stage 9 break on ultra-tight leash<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I would change the whole calendar&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France leader Tadej Poga\u010dar argues for an end to summer racing in places with intense heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2V967amJnedskdrpB7C2bh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Thanks to the GC contenders for this respect&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar says agreement has been reached by favourites to sit at the back and stay safe on Tour de France sprint finishes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UsKMoYA4wPVEK2fVBMXdqc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s clear that he hesitated after not winning yesterday&#8217; \u2013 Alpecin say no need for panic yet at Tour de France despite another sprint loss for Jasper Philipsen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JZ3HnQuY5eNTwnoD5afgne-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Not really proud&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France heartache for Liam Slock as attempt to upset the sprinters with 40km solo just falls short on stage 8<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UCc5o7qeEXMN4Tkv4qPf9L-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The Tour is daunting, but we&#8217;re in the fight&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France &#8216;newbies&#8217; Caja Rural-Seguros RGA push hard to justify wildcard status<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We wanted to calm things down&#8217; &#8211; UAE team management justify the decision to keep Tour de France stage 9 break on ultra-tight leash<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U8NcnosuGJFvw5P7FMD2gQ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I would change the whole calendar&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France leader Tadej Poga\u010dar argues for an end to summer racing in places with intense heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/m8QrqWbp7qM99TGJDpCmPH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Time limit extended on Tour de France stage 9 as CPA says &#8216;start times must evolve in order to protect athletes&#8217; health&#8217; amid extreme heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kdGipALERGNYkWpRfaZur-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The three or four richest teams hoover up all the best young riders&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France director backs salary cap for professional cycling<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/K2ohwnwqHVXQD9kF6nrXjd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Not a lot of other things they can do&#8217; \u2013 Tour de France stage winner Merlier welcomes shortening of stage 9 amid extreme heat<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tBYDkUc98XiwczqrNNyMy5.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;We wanted to calm things down&#8217; &#8211; UAE team management justify the decision to keep Tour de France stage 9 break on ultra-tight leash<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I would change the whole calendar&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France leader Tadej Poga\u010dar argues for an end to summer racing in places with intense heat<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t change gear&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock explains electronic shifter issues that hampered sprint from Tour de France breakaway<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Time limit extended on Tour de France stage 9 as CPA says &#8216;start times must evolve in order to protect athletes&#8217; health&#8217; amid extreme heat<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nPinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTom Pidcock\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t change gear&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock explains electronic shifter issues that hampered sprint from Tour de France breakaway<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nJames Moultrie <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-12T16:27:57Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n12 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I would have come around him anyway&#8217; Brit concedes after taking third behind Mathieu van der Poel in Ussel, but takes positives from strong ride in break<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li 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newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-808e4602-7e0a-11f1-b173-9d6cb713b98c\">Pinarello Q36.5&#8217;s Tom Pidcock was hampered by a jammed shifter in the breakaway sprint for victory on stage 9 at the Tour de France on Sunday, explaining that he had to go without his normal shifting method against stage winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech).<\/p>\n<p>The team later explained that a small piece of asphalt, mixed with bitumen, somehow became lodged inside the right-hand lever, preventing it from making the normal movement required for shifting.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-808e4602-7e0a-11f1-b173-9d6cb713b98c-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The Brit made it into the breakaway of the day, which formed after 50km of all-out racing heading out of Malemort, and was well in the running for the win after cresting the final categorised climb with the three other strongest riders in the move: Van der Poel, Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility)<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But it looked as though bad luck would ruin his day, when he was shown on the TV broadcast to be aggressively waving his hand due to a mechanical. Pidcock kicked at his rear derailleur, but said after the stage that this didn&#8217;t actually fix things, instead having to use the satellite shifter on the inside of his handlebar hoods.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Once it became clear the four in front would hold off the charging peloton, Pidcock focused fully on the sprint and moved his hands to the drops, forgetting his usual level shifting wasn&#8217;t working. Unable to change gear instantly, he couldn&#8217;t match Van der Poel, who scorched to the line in Ussel.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4but3EMXeeA2xdQ4Ry49zL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tour de France: Massive turn of power nets Mathieu van der Poel stage 9 breakaway victory just ahead of bunch sprint<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NuqpdwV5fBrKfN86iq9DcL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You just want to bury yourself in a hole and hide away&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock&#8217;s Tour de France hopes dashed amid Tourmalet torment<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QVvDoPnNswd7fkVH79dqSE-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve done such a hard race in such heat before&#8217; \u2013 Tom Pidcock unable to challenge in punchy Tour de France finale after being &#8216;cooked&#8217; by searing temperatures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;On the climb there, my shifter stopped working and I couldn&#8217;t change gear, and then I realised I couldn&#8217;t only change on the top. But then in the sprint I was focusing so much on the sprint and I was in the drop, and that bottom [shifter] wasn&#8217;t working and I started sprinting and I couldn&#8217;t change gear, so then I had to go on my hoods,&#8221; explained Pidcock at the finish.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong. My bike works perfect the whole race and then today when the win is there, it doesn&#8217;t work. The shifter, the button doesn&#8217;t work, only the top one, so I don&#8217;t know.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-GTCa7YvDjGArHxjcLZEqsQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t fix it with the kick; that didn&#8217;t do anything. It&#8217;s just the buttons; only the one on the bottom works.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Though of course disappointed, this was far from the angry Pidcock seen after past defeats. He arrived back at the team bus some time later on teammate Quinten Hermans&#8217; bike and looked anything but upset. With more clarity and time to assess, he explained his account of the shifter incident again.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I was going super well today, I had really good legs, and was feeling strong. If I compare it to the last time I was in the breakaway in the Tour de France on the gravel stage [in 2024], today I was really in the game in the breakaway,&#8221; explained an upbeat Pidcock to reporters at the team bus.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aASDXVCFnhwrpQzycvzV9a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I was alone&#8217; \u2013 Door open for next Tour de France sprints with speed, but not luck, on Tim Merlier&#8217;s side in Pau<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Nc4DtMUdjAFBDM9H6VMa7U-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Mentally, it&#8217;s super challenging&#8217; \u2013 Despite successful comeback from ravine crash, Tom Pidcock still isn&#8217;t back at his best ahead of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aiKdNouqrKSex5fGqxcPPY-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I lacked that extra punch&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel blames long period away from racing for lack of sprint on Tour de France stage 3 uphill finish<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So it definitely shows that my level is higher, but then in the final, my shifter stopped working. So I was out the back of the group over the last climb, then I realised this top button was working,&#8221; he added, demoing a gear change to the gathered press in front of him, &#8220;but then once I got to the sprint I was focused, then I was instinctively on the drops, and I couldn&#8217;t change gear anymore.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Then I had to go on the hoods. So it&#8217;s a shame, but I tried to just let Mathieu lead the last kilometre. Obviously, he was the fastest in our group, so he would need to go early if the bunch was coming, but they were not close enough, so in the end it was a short sprint, and I don&#8217;t think I would have come around him anyway.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Pidcock had been struggling so far in his first Tour de France with Pinarello Q36.5, already out of the GC race and having been forced to admit he had missed some preparation. Although it wasn&#8217;t the win today, this performance points to the Brit rediscovering his best form and with plenty of transition stages coming in the second week, he will be eyeing his first win at the Tour since Alpe d&#8217;Huez in 2022, before returning to the iconic climb twice in the third week.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not so disappointed. Mathieu will be very hard to beat in those situations, also obviously I do what I can. I&#8217;m quite happy, I&#8217;m just pleased that I could change gear in the end, and that I was in the [breakaway]. At least I was there sprinting for the win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr id=\"elk-808e4710-7e0a-11f1-a075-eb2e79e0ae14\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<p id=\"elk-808e4788-7e0a-11f1-9fc8-7710d9b66f9b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><u><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/broken-shifter-costs-tom-pidcock-in-final-sprint-after-feeling-good-in-tour-de-france-breakaway\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/q8pkrsdAaUJYRiybkGipaH-2500-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 Jonas Vingegaard avoids Tour de France disaster, scrambles to finish on teammate&#8217;s bike after late crash chaos 2 As it happened: Another bunch sprint decides stage 8 of the 2026 Tour de France after breakaway rider caught in final 2km 3 As it happened: Flat stage 7 of the Tour de [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2039919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2039919"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039919\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2039919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2039919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2039919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}