We saw them come and point their noses in the first places of the peloton towards the end of the Cammazes coast, just under 50 km from the finish in Carcassonne, this Sunday, during the 15th stage of the Tour de France. We suspected that Benjamin Thomas and Alexis Gougeard were going to attack, while the Trek had imposed a huge tempo on the climb to eliminate a large part of the sprinters. So there was no surprise when the two Frenchmen took to their heels.
On the other hand, we did not imagine that the two hooligans could fight for the stage victory, when at least five teams (Trek, DSM, Alpecin, Ineos, Total-Direct Energie), had started to roll behind them. Thirty seconds, maximum, in advance, we did not give much of their chances. Even Benjamin Thomas admitted that he didn’t believe it until very late: “I started to believe it 5 km from the finish, when I saw that we were getting better, that it was becoming urban. »
Alexis Gougeard cracks, Benjamin Thomas alone
Indeed, after seeing the gap melt to around ten seconds, the two men rode even harder, seeing the headwind hit them. While the peloton stalled, the Patrouille de France saw their lead go up when they arrived in the suburbs of Carcassonne: around thirty seconds 10 km from the finish and the hope of seeing France finally win a stage in this Tour de France. picked up colors.
The turn comes a little less than 5 km from the line. Exhausted, Alexis Gougeard cracks, Benjamin Thomas has to go alone. “I’m disappointed not to have been able to follow him, because I think it was playable for two, I’m not happy with myself”, admitted, with an annoyed expression, the runner from B&B Hotels. Same feeling for his runaway partner: “I found myself alone, it was harder. Maybe if we had been there together…”
“It’s a maximum effort”
The double omnium world champion, who was on his roads in the Tarn, he who was born in Lavaur, then puts himself in his favorite position as a track racer. Almost lying on his machine, his elbows tucked in so that there is as little wind resistance as possible, Benjamin Thomas advances and resists. And proves that it exists. Eight seconds ahead at 3.7 km from the finish, thirteen at 3 km, thanks to a perfectly negotiated bend.
“It’s a maximum effort, I wasn’t thinking about anything, commented the Cofidis runner at the microphone of France 2. It was just pushing, pulling. I no longer calculated anything, I sent everything I had. And then, despite these superhuman efforts, in the stifling heat, the lead ends up melting: 10, 6, 5, and then the inevitable happens. The Cofidis rider was caught 400m from the line by the peloton.
“We have nothing to be ashamed of”
Overwhelmed by the sprinters, Benjamin Thomas finished in an anecdotal 64th place, 24 seconds behind Jasper Philipsen, winner of the day. Moreover, the Belgian from Alpecin admitted after the race that he was not afraid of not joining Benjamin Thomas. “It’s always hard when there’s someone like that in front. I knew not to panic while it was possible [de le rattraper], and I focused on my sprint. »
And ended the dreams of Benjamin Thomas. That we didn’t see too disappointed to fail so little. “I tried my best in the final, continued the former French time trial champion, accustomed to this kind of solitary effort. We did a great number with Alexis. We tried, we have nothing to reproach ourselves for. It’s played on the razor’s edge, with a few more seconds… I’m completely dead, I have stars in my eyes. “The rest day, Monday, will do good.