Clearly, Cofidis training is hardly in favor with motorized vehicles on the Grand Tours. After Anthony Perez, hit by his own sports director’s car during the 3rd stage of the last Tour de France, Elia Viviani, he was hit by a motorcycle during the 11th stage of the Giro won by the French Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ).
In a roundabout causing a strong slowdown in the final in Rimini, the bike tried to overtake the riders on the right and ended up hitting the Italian at the back. The former European champion, 31, spent long seconds on the ground before being able to leave. It then took him a lot of effort to manage to regain his place in the peloton before going to be treated in the ambulance of the organization.
Viviani, who has not won anything for over a year, relied on the air of the country to rebuild her health. “I want revenge. I want to prove who I am. Honestly, more for me than for others, he explained last week in an interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport. There are two aspects. One is emotional. The sprinter wants to win like a striker who scores. The other is technical: you lose your killer eye during a sprint. I had two fantastic years and I know very well that I am less efficient this year… ”
With a touch of bad luck to boot, like when he fell on the 2nd stage. In the wake of Arnaud Démare before an intermediate sprint, the transalpine sprinter saw his wheel slip away before a turn. After slipping on the wet asphalt, the Olympic champion of the omnium finished his race on the sidewalk.
