'The tarmac was melting': Seixas recounts sketchy stage 10 descents
The oppressive heat that has beset the Tour de France all last week manifested in various threats to rider safety, but on Tuesday's 10th stage it took the form of sketchy descents.
Tour organizer ASO spread white lime on some corners to try to prevent the surface from softening in the heat, but for Decathlon-CMA CGM's Paul Seixas, the danger was still acute. After a rear tire skid, Seixas backed off, likely fearing a repeat of his Tour Auvergne crash that ultimately ended his race. “I really think the tarmac was melting," he said after the stage. "The descent was like an ice rink, so it was lucky we were at the front at that point. We didn’t try to take any risks on the descent.”
Seixas stayed upright, but a number of riders including Tom Pidcock and Chris Harper of Pinarello-Q36.5 and Visma-Lease a Bike's Matteo Jorgenson were unlucky.
