For Tadej and his team UAE Team Emirates – XRG, the 11th stage of the 112th Tour de France was going according to plan when an unexpected twist occurred four kilometers before the finish in Toulouse. Tobias Johannessen (Uno X) followed the attacks of other cyclists, sharply turning right from the left side of the road, blocking Tadej’s path.
A crash followed, fortunately without serious consequences. Tadej quickly got up and continued the race, while the group ahead of him, which included all his competitors in the fight for the yellow jersey, slowed down and waited for him.
Thus, in the 156.8-kilometer test, which Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X) won after a breakaway at kilometer zero, Tadej did not lose any time in the overall standings. He is still 29 seconds behind the yellow jersey holder Ben Healy (EF Education Easy Post) and has a minute advantage over Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick Step) and 1:17 over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease a Bike).
»I’m quite okay, a little beaten up, but we’ve been through worse days. It was a hectic day from start to finish. Then I got involved in a minor crash, I have to thank the peloton in front for waiting. The race was more or less over, but they could have gained some time, not much, but I would have had to go very deep to get back. Big respect to everyone in the front, guys, thank you for your support,« Tadej thanked his competitors for the gentlemanly gesture.
»We came down from the climb, we were all a bit exhausted. Matteo Jorgenson and Jonas Vingegaard were attacking and pushing everyone to their limits. Jhony Narvaez did an excellent job and was also there. We started to control the group, but everyone wants to gain a second or two. New attacks followed, other cyclists followed them. Unfortunately, one of them followed others from the left to the right side of the road. He probably didn’t see me, but he completely cut me off. It took my front wheel, but luckily I only lost some skin. When I saw the sidewalk, I was afraid I would hit it with my head, but luckily my skin is tough and stopped me before the sidewalk,« Tadej said about the crash, for which Johannessen also apologized to him at the finish.
After the demanding 11th stage, in which the average speed was again very high (more than 48 km/h), Tadej and his competitors face the first Pyrenean test, the 12th stage with 3,850 meters of elevation will end after 180.6 kilometers at Hautacam.
»A big day is coming, we’ll see how I recover. Normally, the day after a crassh you’re not at your best, but I’ll give my best tomorrow. As a team, we are ready for Hautacam,« Tadej added. On this Pyrenean climb, Vingegaard won in 2022. How will it be this time?