ProTeam Arnaud De Lie takes second top 5 in the first week of the Tour

After the first mountain stage to the Galibier, it was again a day for the sprinters today. Two Frenchmen Clément Russo and Matteo Vercher chose for the breakaway. In the bunch it was an easy day, until a crash on 50 kilometers from the finish. Sébastien Grignard was involved, but got away without any consequences. At 35 kilometers to go the two leaders got caught and the bunch started the hectic preparations for the sprint. Mark Cavendish was the fastest and took his 35th stage win in the Tour, Arnaud De Lie became fourth.

“It was headwind, so it didn’t go as fast and there was more chaos. The corner didn’t make it more hectic, everyone is still fresh coming from behind the wheels and then you need to find an opening, I was a bit far. I’m happy with this fourth spot, a bit of a shame that I still have quite some power in my legs but that’s a sprint. There’s such a high level here, a top 10 with such big names. Mark Cavendish is a legend, in the Tour de Suisse he suffered a lot and now he wins. I’m super happy for him, it’s unbelievable what he achieved.”

Picture: PhotoNews