Julian still Tour leader
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:30:17 +0000
NÎMES, France (AFP) – Caleb Ewan sprinted to his second victory on the Tour de France on Tuesday as Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe kept the overall lead after stage 16, where Geraint Thomas fell but finished with all the main contenders.
As France experienced a heatwave defending champion Thomas mis-timed a curb and was left with a gash on his left leg after hitting the tarmac hard on the 177km run around the southern city of Nimes.
Australia’s Caleb Ewan (center) celebrates as crosses the finish line with Slovakia’s Peter Sagan to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday. (AP)
After his third fall during this Tour, Team Ineos’ sports director Nicolas Portal said Thomas felt fine.
“He’s OK, he needed another bike. All his left side is a bit messed up but nothing serious,” he said.
“We have to refocus after the rest day,” added Portal.