Behind, Valentin Madouas (22e), David Gaudu (33e), Pavel Sivakov (35e), who was for a time in the lead with Pogacar, Romain Grégoire (38e) and Rudy Molard (61e) also showed up, while Julien Bernard and Julian Alaphilippe gave up. “Julian’s abandonment, with his current state of form and the level he had regained, is a huge loss. For him to give up after 35 km was not great and that’s an understatement,” regretted coach Thomas Voeckler.
Falling at the start of the race, the 2020 and 2021 world champion dislocated his left shoulder and was taken to hospital as a precaution. “I arrived there about twenty seconds after he fell. He did not lose consciousness, he immediately told me that his shoulder was very painful. It was put back in place and he returned to the hotel. But we missed him,” Voeckler added.
Deprived of its leader, France had to adapt and the coach commissioned Bardet to “take Julian’s place”, while Sivakov “had to anticipate”, which he did by accompanying Pogacar, his leader at UAE, during a round. “I tried to follow him but I clearly burned my wings. His level is incredible,” said Sivakov, who Pogacar waited for a while, offering to collaborate, before “dropping” him. “I’ve never seen that, it was a steamroller,” added the Frenchman.
When Sivakov broke down, Bardet and David Gaudu remained at the front before giving in in the final of an “extremely tough” race. “There are quite a few regrets. We took a hit to morale by losing Alaphilippe to a fall very quickly. We all did our best but I think there was a way to do better,” reacted Bardet, who was competing in his last World Championships at the age of 33.
Related News :