Scandal in 2nd TdF stage: Tacks on the track! Cyclists complain about flat tires

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At the end of the 208.9 km from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian, Victor Lafay came out on top just ahead of the Belgian Wout van Aert with his strong sprint and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar. For the 27-year-old Frenchman of Team Cofidis it was only the fourth professional victory, the second in a grand tour after the one two years ago in the Giro d’Italia.

Adam Yates defended the leotard yellow won in Bilbao the day before. The 30-year-old Briton is six seconds ahead of his UAE Emirates teammate Pogacar. Simultaneously with the Slovenian in third place is Adam Yates’ twin brother Simon. Jonas Vingegaard, the winner of last year’s Danish Tour, follows 17 seconds behind in sixth place.

Tacks cause punctures

The reason for the shortage should be ugly. As his sporting director Grischa Niermann confirmed to Eurosport, Vingegaard is said to have suffered a puncture due to tacks on the road. In the last 40 kilometers before the finish, strangers would have scattered the obstacle, which should not be underestimated. However, whether this is actually the case cannot yet be confirmed.

“Thank you for that nonsense. That’s why you can fall and seriously injure yourself, idiots,” Lilian Calmejane, who was also affected, writes on Twitter, showing a video of five thumbtacks in his band.

Matt White, athletic director of Team Jayco AIUIa, is convinced that the nails were put on the road on purpose. “It’s a shame,” he complains to “Cyclingnews”. They were lucky that their driver Simon Yates (third overall) was not affected, but “a lot of guys punctured at a pretty key point in the race”.

Küng best Swiss

On the second day of the tour, Jaizkibel, known for the one-day race Clasica San Sebastian, led the expected selection within the field. On the last big climb of the day, the UAE Emirates team’s Pogacar helpers – including leader Adam Yates – ramped up the pace and overtook the last breakaway in American Neilson Powless.

Stefan Küng was in 63rd place overall, seven minutes behind. The man from Thurgau led his Groupama team leader David Gaudu, who, together with Pogacar, Vingegaard and Co. crossed the finish line well ahead of the field in the nearly 8km climb to the Jaizkibel.

The 3rd stage on Monday should be a matter for the sprinters. The route starts in the Basque town of Amorebieta-Etxano and ends after 193.5 km in Bayonne, France. (SDA/che)

Source : Blick