{"id":278476,"date":"2025-07-20T22:55:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/278476\/"},"modified":"2025-07-20T22:55:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:55:13","slug":"moto-drivers-played-a-part-in-wellens-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/278476\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Moto Drivers Played a Part\u2019 In Wellens Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”><\/p>\n

CARCASSONNE, France (Velo) \u2013 Stage 15 saw another brave Tour de France<\/a> breakaway for Quinn Simmons<\/a> and another near miss in his all-action race so far.<\/p>\n

Hanging meterrs off his back wheel, he was close to escaping with Tim Wellens<\/a> after the Belgian champion made his bold winning move<\/a> on the Col de Fontbruno, 42 kilometers from the finish in Carcassonne.<\/p>\n

The Coloradan\u2019s final result of 21st in a large group sprint Sunday was no reflection of his strength or influence on the race, helping to pull away a decisive five-man group with 54km to go and forcing the issue regularly during the day.<\/p>\n

This performance comes hot on the heels of a second place for in-form Simmons on stage six to Vire<\/a> and ninth place on stage 11.<\/p>\n

Motos \u2018part of the Tour game\u2019
\n\"\"(Photo: Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Warming down on the rollers outside the Lidl-Trek<\/a> team bus, Simmons had a few things to say about what went wrong afterwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the third time this week that I think the moto drivers have played a little part in the victory here,\u201d Simmons told Velo and several other media.<\/p>\n

TV camera motorbikes often sit in front of race breakaways or the peloton, with occasional passes also taking place by motos carrying photographers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate but we know this is the game of the Tour. Luckily if you\u2019re the one that gets away, you get this advantage and there\u2019s no chance for the group behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked to elaborate on what he meant by Velo, Simmons said: \u201cI think you watched the coverage, didn\u2019t you? I think you saw what I meant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wellens responds: \u2018The legs did the work today, not the moto\u2019
\n\"Tour<\/p>\n

Stage 15 winner Tim Wellens was sanguine when asked by Velo in the post-race press conference about whether he got an advantage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a little bit optimistic from Quinn to say I win because of the moto. I think the legs were very good, I don\u2019t think the moto played a part in my victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope not. But if it\u2019s the case, I think Quinn could also attack first and take the moto\u2019s help \u2013 if there was help. But today, I think the legs did the work, not the moto.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas talks moto influence
\n\"INEOS(Photo by Marco BERTORELLO \/ AFP)<\/p>\n

The American road race champion<\/a> is not the only rider to recently complain about motorbike influence on the Tour de France.<\/p>\n

Talking after Thursday\u2019s stage 12 to Hautacam, peloton veteran Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) commented that the motorbike was sitting 20 to 30 meters ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 54 kilometers per hour, you get a slipstream, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone was complaining.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not a pro cyclist\u2019s fault \u2013 if a vehicle close enough for a draft, of course they are going to make the most of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a known problem in cycling. The guys on the motorbikes are just doing their job, which is to get footage, but that can change the race,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n

Simmons on \u2018grade A, cat 5\u2032 breakaway tactics<\/b>
\n\"\"(Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

On a hectic day of shifting scenarios, where countless attacks shot off the front and folded back into the bunch, Simmons joined a larger breakaway group in a counter-attack over the day\u2019s first climb and emerged in front with seven other riders.<\/p>\n

He moved clearer over the Pas du Sant, 55 kilometers from the finish, joined by Wellens, Victor Campenaerts, Michael Storer, Alexander Vlasov and Warren Barguil over the grinding final climb of the day.<\/p>\n

Simmons found that the breakaway lacked cohesion. \u201cSome grade A cat-five tactics today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s how it is, Wellens did a super strong ride. In the end, I think there was only one situation for today and that was it be super hard and a really strong rider get away in the final.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis morning, we had a few differences of opinion on what was going to happen in the stage,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd unfortunately, I had to spend a bit of energy controlling in the start for something that probably was never going to happen. But you have to do what the radio says.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simmons\u2019 sports director Steven De Jongh suggested Velo there were no conflicting plans as Simmons was allowed to go in big groups from the start.<\/p>\n

However, the team were also seeking green jersey points at the intermediate sprint but Jonathan Milan \u201cdid not have the legs today\u201d, leading to Lidl-Trek stopping pulling when the gap was 45 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u2018Strange\u2019 tactics and little cohesion
\n\"\"Eyes on the prize: Simmons lead breakaway companions Michael Storer and Tim Wellens. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO \/ AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the whole day, everyone\u2019s tactics were a bit strange,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cWe had such strong groups, but we never really working well together.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen when a guy like Wellens goes, we all need to commit. Unfortunately, we had Campenaerts just sitting there muttering something about Van Aert the whole time.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one else really committed when there\u2019s one guy who\u2019s playing a bit of games. It\u2019s how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite not getting the result he wanted, Simmons has been one of the strongmen of the Tour, up the road in four breakaways, showing his bright US champion\u2019s jersey and super-strong legs. \u201cHe is in the shape of his life,\u201d De Jongh said.<\/p>\n

If he has his way, it will not be the last time the 24-year-old is up the road in this race.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still two, maybe three, opportunities in the third week, so hopefully the legs stay ok,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not here for the most aggressive of the day, I\u2019m here to win a stage.\u201d<\/p>\n