Tour de France, Gruissan-Nîmes stage: “If there is no wind, it will end in a sprint”, Gardois Alexandre Delettre analyzes the 16th stage

Alexandre Delettre sous le maillot Saint-Michel-Mavic-Auber 93. MAXPPP – Laurent Lairys

Gardois Alexandre Delettre, rider of the Saint-Michel-Mavic-Auber 93 team, analyzes the first two weeks of the Tour de France and dissects the next stage between Gruissan and Nîmes, contested this Tuesday July 16.

Alexandre Delettre at TotalEnergies ?

After two years at Cofidis in 2022 and 2023, a team in which Cédric Vasseur did not want to join keep it, Alexandre Delettre plays with Saint-Michel-Mavic-Auber 93 this season. A profitable choice since the puncher achieved twelve top 10s this year, including four podiums (2nd in the Boucles d’Aulne, 3rd in the Route Adélie de Vitré, Paris-Camembert and beyond) ;stop at the Boucles de la Mayenne).

The DirectVélo media announces a departure from Gardois next season. Delettre would have committed himself to with the French TotalEnergies team.

"A transfer to Total ? That's what they say but I'm à Auber and &ccedil ;it’s going very well. This little victory is missing. I missed him &agrav; each time not much. I work for, I have the motivation for. I continue à fight for ça and hope ça will happen à the end of the year. If I can make podiums, it’s because I have winning in my legs."

Does the Pogacar-Vingegaard duel reach new heights in terms of level on the bike ?

It’s top, top, top level. We saw that there were only two who were capable of achieving these performances. It turned into a duel to win this Tour. I have the impression that it is a physical war but above all a psychological one, to know who will crush the other as quickly as possible.

Pogacar has definitely taken the advantage?

As long as the finish line has not passed, anything can happen in sport, especially in cycling. Otherwise, yes, Pogacar took an option to win. But the road is still long. The last week is tough. He must not have a day without, like last year.

Is the UAE team stronger than Vingegaard's Visma Lease a bike?

In the mountains, yes. But on the tricky stages, we saw that UAE had been fooled, especially when there was wind and edges. Afterwards, Pogacar is so strong, so skillful on the bike, that I have the impression that he can handle himself.

"The podium looks like it was drawn"

When you are a professional cyclist, can the level displayed disgust more than one person?

If that were the case, I wouldn't be on the bike. Afterwards, it’s another world. There are two categories, like in many sports. There are legends and others. For me, it's certain that I'm not in their category and I'm not a climber, so I don't compare myself. I can understand that pure climbers might be disgusted to see guys so much higher.

What about Remco Evenepoel ?

He's still there. But if we stay on a race without traps, without falls, I don't see him catching the other two. But I see him as a solid third. The podium looks like it was drawn.

It's not good to have escaped on the Tour from the start…

It's blocking for the adventurers, the climbers not placed in the general. It’s a bit of a shame for the show. The share of the pie is not very well distributed in the mountains.

Axel Zingle remporte les #BouclesdelAulne devant Alexandre Delettre et Mads Wirtz Schmidt pic.twitter.com/ZnrDOmXzW4

— 🚴 Les Rois du Peloton 🚲 (@LRoisDuPeloton) May 12, 2024

The Tour arrives in Nîmes this Tuesday. How do you see this day ?

I haven't looked at the weather forecast. But we can end up with wind. That’s the only thing that makes it a bit tricky. If there isn't one, I see a nice massive sprint. Between Sommières and Nîmes, I know the roads well, it’s flat. It’s sure that it will happen with the big thighs of the peloton. Especially a day of rest.

What is your prediction?

Jasper Philipsen has regained his confidence. There is one who absolutely wants to win and who is always second, that is Wout Van Aert. Maybe he had a better time on the mountain. But since there was a day off, I would say Philipsen.

I subscribe to read more