Tour de France - Cycling world in shock after Drege's fatal crash
The elite cyclists of the Tour de France mourn the death of Norwegian cycling professional André Drege. "I am in shock," said superstar Tadej Pogacar. "It's hard to process what has happened. It's very sad to hear," he added. "In the cycling world, we really have to take care of each other and look out for each other," said the current leader in the Yellow Jersey.
During the current Tour de France, there have been few serious accidents. Only three cyclists had to abandon their bikes before the start of the eighth Tour stage, two due to crashes. Among them was former World Champion Mads Pedersen. Pascal Ackermann tried to explain. The sprinter feels comfortable among the experienced cyclists at his Tour debut. And above all safe. The 30-year-old German sees the great racing experience in the rider field as a reason for the few serious crashes at the 111th edition of the French Grand Tour.
"At the Tour, you can see that the experienced riders don't ride as cleanly as the young ones," said Ackermann in conclusion. On Saturday, the 30-year-old finished fourth in a mass sprint, just missing his first Tour stage win. Young riders, according to Ackermann, don't have the bike handling skills that his generation did at their age. The opening stage of the Tour after the start in Florence was also particularly demanding. "The first two stages were tough. And that leads to fewer crashes," said veteran John Degenkolb. The 35-year-old is participating in his tenth Tour.
Change in crash rule
There followed several sprint stages. The hectic final kilometers in the past often led to serious accidents. To improve the safety of the riders, the Tour organizers changed the crash rule from three to four or five kilometers on certain stages.
For the first time at the 2024 Tour in Turin, this rule was in effect. Through this regulation, the times for the general classification are taken at these kilometer markers. This makes the mass sprints less hectic, as the general classification riders hold back and the sprinters and their helpers get more space for their rapid race finish.
"What surprised me positively was that the opening of the three-kilometer rule actually had an effect," praised Degenkolb. "That's certainly also a reason for the generally harmless collisions," he added.
Gravel spectacle in Troyes
The sixth stage of the Tour de France 2022 was a gravel spectacle in Troyes. The 181.5 km long route took the riders through the vineyards of the Champagne region. A total of 17.6 km of gravel roads were on the agenda. The peloton had to overcome a total of 2,800 meters in altitude. The stage was won by Tadej Pogacar, who took the lead in the general classification.
The gravel sections were a new challenge for many riders. "It was a real test of character," said Pascal Ackermann. "The gravel sections were really tough, but I managed to stay focused and keep my bike under control," he added.
The veteran of the peloton, Jens Voigt, who retired from professional cycling in 2014, also took part in the stage as a guest rider. "I was really looking forward to this stage. It was a great experience to ride on the gravel again," said Voigt. "But it was also clear that the current riders have a completely different approach to riding on gravel than we did in my time," he added.
The gravel sections of the Tour de France 2022 were a spectacle for the fans and a new challenge for the riders. The organizers of the Tour de France have shown once again that they are not afraid to innovate and offer the fans something new and exciting.
The theme of the country tour with the disappointing performance so far could suddenly change on Sunday. Then comes the tricky gravel stage around Troyes. The organizers want spectacle, top teams are concerned about their riders. In total, there are 14 unpaved sections on a length of 32 kilometers, which have already caused concerns among the sports leaders of the top riders regarding Pogacar before the start of the tour. A small error, an unfortunate fall, and the tour could be early ended for one of the stars in the race for the general classification.
- Norwegian professional cyclist Alexander Kristoff expressed his condolences upon hearing about Andre Drege's death, saying, "It's sad news for the cycling community."
- Despite the change in crash rule, former World Champion John Degenkolb noted that experienced riders like himself still maintain a cleaner riding style than the young ones.
- Tadej Pogacar, the current Yellow Jersey leader in the Tour de France, expressed his deep concern for the safety of all riders, saying, "Cycling is a team sport, and we need to look out for each other."
- During the Tour de France, professional cyclist Tadej Pogacan won the grueling gravel stage in Troyes, showcasing his exceptional skills on the challenging terrains.
- In the midst of the grueling gravel stage, Pascal Ackermann displayed his resilience and bike handling skills, finishing the stage safely despite the challenging conditions.
- The current edition of the Tour de France, which is participating in its 111th edition in France, has seen fewer serious accidents due to the safe riding habits of experienced riders like Degenkolb.
- Mads Pedersen, a former World Champion, had to abandon the Tour due to a crash, highlighting the need for constant vigilance and safety measures during the race.
- The Tour de France 2022 is set to have an exciting finale with a challenging gravel stage around Troyes, causing concerns among the sports leaders of top riders about potential accidents and falls.
