On Monday, Latvian cyclists Toms Skujiņš and Krists Neilands finished in the big group in the third stage of the prestigious multi-day cycling tour “Tour de France”, in which the Australian Keilebs Juan was crowned the winner.
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On Monday, cyclists had to cover a distance of 198 kilometers from Nice to Sisterona, overcoming three third- and one-fourth-category climbs along the way. About half of the distance was the Frenchman Gerom Kozen (“Total Direct Energie”), who was caught about 16 kilometers before the finish.
The winner of the stage was determined in the finals of the finish, in which Lotto Soudal cyclist Juan remained unbeaten, beating the Irishman Sam Benet (“Deceuninck – Quick Step”) and the Italian Giacomo Nicolo (NTT).
The large group of 143 athletes finished five hours, 17 minutes and 42 seconds after the distance. Herringbone (“Trek – Segafredo”) took 98th place, while Neilands (“Israel Start-Up Nation”) was in 136th place.
Two of the Latvian team members finished in the top ten – the Frenchman Igo Hofstethers (“Israel Start-Up Nation”) was immediately behind the podium, while the Belgian Edward Tens (“Trek – Segafredo”) won the sixth place.
Meanwhile, one of the most active riders in the previous stage, Antoni Perez (“Cofidis, Solutions Credits”), experienced a fall in which a French athlete broke his collarbone and withdrew from the tour.
The winner of the previous stage, Julien Alafilip (“Deceuninck – Quick Step”), took the 58th place, but this does not prevent the Frenchman from maintaining the leading position. After three stages, he is four seconds ahead of his closest follower, Briton Edith Yeats (“Mitchelton-Scott”), while Swiss Mark Hirsch (“Sunweb”) is three seconds behind.
Neilands loses seven minutes and 17 seconds, which gives him 57th place, but Skujiņš is ten minutes and 34 seconds behind, and is in 69th position. In the second stage, Skujiņš, who went on a break, is the third in the mountain king’s competition, but in the sprinters’ evaluation, Carnikavietis takes the 23rd place.
For Neiland, this is his debut in the French tour, but Skujiņš will participate in this competition for the third year in a row.
The Tour de France, which is rightly considered one of the largest sporting events in the world, is celebrating its 107th anniversary this year.
Last year, Skujiņš finished ninth in the 17th stage, but in 2018, he finished fifth in one of the stages, as well as rode in the mountain king’s shirt for several stages. Last year, Skujiņš finished in the 81st position in the overall rating.
The last time two Latvians were together in the “Tour de France” was in 2002. At that time, Arvis Piziks and Raivis Belohvoščiks each rode in their team.
In total, the French tour is scheduled for 21 stages this year, finishing on September 20 in the Champs Elysées.
