Tim Wellens won Sunday's fifteenth stage in the Tour de France, but the Belgian rider from UAE Team Emirates-XRG faced heavy criticism for his racing tactics. According to several fellow breakaway riders, Wellens barely contributed to the breakaway but then decided to attack. The same criticism came from Michael Storer, but not directed at Wellens, but at Victor Campenaerts.
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Storer was also part of the early breakaway on Sunday, and the Australian from Tudor was eager to win. He tried several times, and his efforts on the final steep climb created a smaller group. This included Wellens, Quinn Simmons, and Campenaerts. “I tried to make the difference on the steep climb, but it wasn't quite enough,” was his initial analysis on SBS.
Then the tone changed, and Campenaerts was mentioned by name by Storer. According to the climber, the Belgian was the reason why the first group didn't stay away. “He was stuffing up the breakaway and actually ruined it for everyone except Wellens. He seized the opportunity. Campenaerts said that Wout van Aert was behind him, but he was really far back. I don't understand that. By not working together, he gave Wellens the victory. I don't think that was very smart tactically.”
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Campenaerts finished second and called Wellens "smart and sneaky"
The elite group that was ahead was eventually caught by the group behind, before Campenaerts attacked in the final and finished second. Julian Alaphilippe sprinted to third place in the group, ahead of Van Aert. Storer crossed the finish line in 22nd place. The Belgian rider from Visma pointed to Wellens when it came to tactics. “We have a good relationship outside of racing, but in the race, he's someone you don't want to have around. He's smart, sneaky, he knows how to play the game.”
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So it was a lively affair at the front, in a stage that Wellens won. It was one of the few opportunities for the breakaway riders in this Tour de France, which was dominated by punchers in the first week and Tadej Pogacar in the second week. In the third week, the Alps await, and there still seem to be some opportunities for someone like Storer. He has already shown himself in this Tour five times, finishing third on stage 6 and fifth on stage 10.
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
🇦🇺 Michael Storer was on the charge again at the Tour de France, claiming most combative on Stage 15, and was pretty combative in the post-race interview, talking about the non-collaboration of Victor Campenaerts in the breakaway!
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