Tension, emotion and extreme speed: this is how MD lives the Tour de France from the AG2R Citroen car

There were 40 kilometers left and chaos took over the race: drops, holes, twisty terrain and some riders ready to devour every meter of the stage combined to give shape to a day full of emotion and tension. It happened after 4:00 pm, but the day for the cyclists of AG2R Citroën and the rest of the peloton started earlier.

Its second stage Tour de France It was presented as the longest race: 210 kilometers and constantly up and down (as if there was another option in the Basque Country). Departure is around 12:30 pm, but two hours before, the bus leaves AG2Rthe other team-driven vehicles and the cyclists and staff were already hanging around outside the successplace where the stage left.

At that time, while the cyclists had coffee, finished setting themselves up and received a technical talk that would outline the strategy for the race, the mechanics finished tuning the riders’ bikes. . It’s still early, but a lot is moving. Fans and guests have already filled the area around the podium where the cyclists will climb to bathe in their own little private mass bath.

Calm in the peloton until it’s gone

After the introduction the stage began. The first kilometers in the car of AG2R Citroën They passed calmly despite having to attend immediately to a puncture. With the breakaway established, there was a certain tense calm that was only broken by moments where the vehicle had to move forward to deliver drums and food to the cyclists.

This operation is quite heroic – or reckless, depending on how you look at it. Overtaking had to be managed through two narrow lanes on a country road and between endless lines of cars with motorcycles belonging to the organization, television and police and the occasional cyclist was not attached due to damage or to relieve the bladder. It sounds complicated, and it is. Of course, the driver did it almost out of the blue and the sports director, Julien Jurdie, nor did he flinch despite the boats speed bumps, the swerves and the acceleration and braking avoiding each other. Pure routine.

absolute chaos broke out

Raised areas gave rear passengers a break. When the speed drops, it’s easier to control the wheels and the mechanical material that covers a good portion of the rear seats. All this is a mirage. Some naysayers threw thumbtacks on the road causing many potholes which tensed up the peloton. The stage has been launched and there are just over 35 kilometers to go, a drop of Ben O’Connor (Australia), head of AG2R Citroënended up unleashing racing madness and team car action.

I don’t have a time-frame for how long it takes the mechanic to get out of the car, take a bike off the roof, deliver it, help. o’connor to get on, pick up the fallen and fix it back on top of the car. It took a few seconds, I don’t know how many, but it was a few of everything he did. In these situations, experience is important, and more than 25 years in different teams in the peloton will definitely help to cope with these situations.

From there, between the distance the Australian cyclist had to recover and the positions lost with the other cars due to the fall break, the tension rose, so it didn’t drop until it reached. San Sebastian. Overtaking, honking, and cyclists are scattered everywhere among the crowds that crowd the sides of the road every meter. Upon arrival, some discomfort in the team due to loss of time Ben O’Connorbut at the same time look forward to the opportunities that the future will provide in a career whose script is unpredictable.