Nils Politt also had to go to the doping control after a used day at the 110th Tour de France. The 29-year-old professional cyclist experienced a bitter 19th stage because none of the three spare wheels handed out by a neutral vehicle fit him after a broken chain. So he lost his place in the leading group with 90 kilometers to go. “It really wasn’t good today. We didn’t have a team car behind us,” said the Cologne native after Matej Mohoric from Slovenia had won the stage on Friday.
Shortly thereafter, the 1.92 meter tall cyclist got a new bike from his German racing team, Bora-hansgrohe. Politt was obviously served when none of the spare wheels fitted.
“It’s just annoying that something like this happens when I want to be in the escape group,” he added. Politt regretted that the bikes in the neutral car had the wrong pedals. The disappointment was also great for his Bora-hansgrohe team. “By the time he was back on his bike, the group was over and even the peloton was over. Then of course it’s game over,” said sporting director Rolf Aldag.
Politt last ensured a German day win in 2021. Before the start of the stage, the Bora driver had explained with motivation that he wanted to attack. “Hopefully it will be a breakaway and I will fight for that.”
The plan initially worked for the man from Cologne. With about 125 kilometers to go, Politt and Zimmermann joined a breakaway group with seven other riders. At the back of the peloton, teammates from the breakaway group at the front of the peloton slowed down the pace. The leading group gained a little more than a minute’s cushion, but was caught about 67 kilometers before the finish line.
The Slovenian Mohoric won on the long final straight of the 172.8 kilometers to Poligny in a photo finish, just ahead of the Dane Kasper Asgreen. Australia’s Ben O’Connor took third place. At first, Mohoric didn’t know whether he or his opponent had won. He was all the more moved when he celebrated the result when it was announced. For him it was the third stage victory in a Tour of France.
As expected, nothing changed at the top of the overall standings. Denmark’s defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is still 7:35 ahead of his rival Tadej Pogacar. With two stages to go to Paris, Vingegaard can probably only win the Tour by falling.
