An indignant Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) has slated fellow Belgian racer Jasper Philipsen for a manoeuvre within the finale of stage 6 of the Tour de France that noticed Van Aert blocked in and unable to dash, and which later price Philipsen a relegation.
Sixth within the end, Van Aert later accused Philipsen of a ‘dangerous behavior’ saying that he was as soon as ‘once more’ boxed in by his compatriot, a reference understood to discuss with a bunch dash in Bayonne in final yr’s Tour the place the 2 additionally crossed swords.
Van Aert additionally known as for Philipsen’s relegation, one thing that subsequently actually occurred, with the Alpecin-Deceuninck racer demoted from second to 107th, significantly impeding his choices of preventing for the inexperienced jersey not less than on this stage.
Phlipsen’s staff defended their rider, with staff supervisor Christoph Roodhooft saying, “I did not assume it was a manoeuvre that 100% justifies the declassification. There is one thing to be mentioned by each side.”
However, Van Aert was visibly upset after the end, with Sporza reporting, ‘The steam virtually got here out of his ears.”
“I used to be as soon as once more boxed in by Jasper Philipsen within the dash , everybody noticed that. That is a foul behavior of his, “ Van Aert mentioned.
“It wasn’t essentially tremendous harmful, as a result of I used to be simply in a position to brake in time. But I sprinted as much as his degree, and I do not perceive why he then swerved in direction of the limitations.”
“That isn’t knowledgeable approach to ‘shut the door’. He should have sensed that I used to be subsequent to him. But he did this final yr within the Tour and now he’s doing it once more.”
Speaking earlier than the information of the commissaires verdict towards Philipsen, Van Aert mentioned he was glad to remain upright, however that he could be indignant if Philipsen didn’t obtain a penalty. He additionally mentioned such manoeuvres have been a part of a worrying pattern in racing.
“I’m particularly glad that I stayed upright. But if there is not any sanction, that might make me indignant. They should not throw him out of the Tour, however he must be declassified.
“Today you noticed one loopy stunt after one other in these final kilometers. If they do not punish that severely, everybody thinks that something goes. It’s an more and more large drawback.”
A winner of a Tour de France TT again in 2021, in addition to a stage 24 hours in a while the Champs Elysées, Van Aert mentioned he was very a lot trying ahead to the time trial on Friday. Apart from being a very good goal itself, the 25 kilometres race towards the clock would act as a key reference level for the upcoming Olympic Games TT – the place he shall be racing for Belgium – given his crash-blighted first half of the season. As for bunch sprints, there’ll doubtless be one other one within the Tour de France on Saturday.
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