Yesterday, Romain Bardet had to bite his teeth to cling to, because he became ill during the stage. At DSM they hoped that the night would bring advice, but that did not happen.
Bardet tried again, but got into the car early in the 13th stage. This was a bitter pill, especially for his lieutenant Romain Combaud. Even a few hours later, at the finish, the grief was still not over.
“It’s rotten, if I may say so. Romain was strong, he was more than ready and on his way to something beautiful.”
“We had hoped it would be better, but the heat was too much. It’s just a virus, so it will pass.”
Combaud finishes the interview at Eurosport, sobbing. “Romain is not only a friend, but also a great rider. He is a great champion and will definitely come back strong.”
