Pidcock and Jorgenson crash on Le Lioran stage
Ace descender Tom Pidcock isn't usually one to have trouble going downhill. But on the descent off the Puy Mary climb in Tuesday's tenth stage of the Tour de France, the Pinarello-Q36.5 rider slid out in a left-hand switchback. Visma-Lease a Bike's Matteo Jorgenson also later crashed in the same corner, as did Pidcock's teammate Chris Harper.
Both were up and riding again quickly and Pidcock chased back on to the main group of favorites riding in pursuit of lone attacker Tadej Pogačar. He would finish ninth on the day but was clearly displeased with the road conditions, particularly Tour promoter ASO's efforts to address the road surface.
“I don't know what they're doing with the roads here, they've all thrown white 'shit' over them," he said, referencing lime that ASO spread in corners to keep the asphalt temperature from causing traction problems. "But that made it very smooth, and especially in the descents.”
Jorgenson, meanwhile, finished nearly 13 minutes down, while Harper, who got up clutching his wrist, was over half an hour down but finished. Pidcock said he was feeling OK but would get medical checks just in case.
