Veistroffer did it again! I saw the Uno-X leading the peloton immediately reaching for his radio, and imagined what he said: "Hey Boss! The leader of the race attacked at km 0. There was no such plan in our morning briefing. What do I do?" 😆

His little group was chased and caught after perhaps 4 or 5 km. Then 1 km farther he tried again, without success. Another 2 km, one more try. And one more at km 10, with a Total; and when they're caught, he tries again, and this time a large group breaks away.

edit:

So, Veistroffer didn't feel it was a true breakaway, there were too many people in it polluting his clean air. After 10 km in this large group, he attacked again, 4 guys and then 2 more followed him, and the real breakaway was formed.

These breakaways are not a stroll in the park like they often are for most of the distance: here, the guys are pushing pushing pushing for hours. Pacher (🇫🇷 FDJ) was dropped 40 km from the line; he wasn't attacked, it was on the flat, he just couldn't relay nor even keep a wheel to stay in the line any more.

The breakaway was caught in the beginning of the final climb. They could have been lucky and benefitted from the mass crash in the peloton a few miles earlier, but that crash happened in a roundabout, and a small half of the bunch had chosen to ride on the right of the roundabout and was unaffected as the crash happened on the left side of the roundabout.

Anyway, that was an extra 180 km spent in a breakaway for Veistroffer. The battle with Vercouillie is intense 😀

[–] Deschanel2017@lemmings.world 1 points 1 week ago

Stage 4 (10/2/2026)

Damien Touzé (🇫🇷 Cofidis) crashed on that day. I didn't see it. However, he suffered internal injuries, and as a result he won't ride again this year, and this may also be the end of his pro carrier. 😨