As Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) was barrelling towards his file thirty fifth Tour de France stage win, behind him Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) had instantly hit the deck leaving Axel Zingle (Cofidis) – who was simply tailing off after main out teammate Bryan Coquard – with a fast choice to make as he headed towards the road in Saint Vulbas.
“It occurred in a short time. I had completed my job for Bryan, I had moved apart,” mentioned Zingle in a workforce media assertion. “For me, the race was already over although I used to be nonetheless going at 60 km/h. I didn’t count on to have a fall in entrance of me.”
But that’s what he obtained, with Pedersen bouncing off the barrier and sliding out throughout the street, face down, splayed flat on the street and proper throughout the 25-year-old’s path.
“I used to be coming too quick to brake, and I didn’t need to fall. I had my fingers in a cosy match, I used to be prepared so I attempted and it went via,” mentioned Zingle, who averted slamming straight into the rider with the assistance of a well-executed bunny hop.
“I felt that I had touched him, I hope I didn’t harm him. But he has robust pores and skin, I hope he’ll be in good condition tomorrow!,” mentioned the Frenchman, who is predicted to search for alternatives within the hillier phases in addition to working within the lead out.
The Lidl-Trek workforce mentioned in a press release that Pedersen suffered heavy impression to his left shoulder and again within the crash on the finish of Stage 5, however that preliminary x-rays revealed no fractures.
“He will proceed to be monitored in a single day and a closing choice on whether or not he can begin Stage 6 will likely be taken tomorrow morning.”
Stage 6 must be one other day for the sprinters, with a comparatively flat 163.5km from Mâcon to Dijon with an 800-metre straightaway into the prefecture of the Côte-d’Or the place the stage victor will likely be determined.
