Andreas Kron Determined to Fight for Stage Win after Tour de France Misfortune
Lotto Soudal rider Andreas Kron suffered a puncture in the final moments of stage fourteen of the Tour de France, dashing his chances of a stage victory. Despite the setback, Kron remained optimistic and vowed to continue fighting for a stage win.
Kron was part of a strong 23-rider breakaway that formed early in the stage, with an advantage of ten minutes over the peloton. In the final kilometers, Kron managed to break away with three other riders, forming a four-man group that seemed poised to compete for the stage win. Kron believed that he had made the right move and was confident in the group’s chances.
“With such a big breakaway, it would always be a tactical battle so I had to choose the right moment to attack. When we got away with four strong guys, I was really confident that we could go for the stage win. In any case, I was part of the right group,” said Kron.
However, luck was not on Kron’s side as he suffered a puncture in the descent before the final climb. Despite managing to rejoin the chasing group, Kron finished in 13th place in Mende. Michael Matthews, who was also part of the original breakaway group, took the stage victory.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Kron said, “I punctured in full descent due to a little stone on the road, I was forced to ride on the rim and I could narrowly avoid a crash. That was of course a real bummer. I will never know what would have happened without that crash because Matthews was looking really strong. Of course, it still was a nice chance for a stage victory because I could start the final climb in a nice position. On the climb, it would be about having the legs. This missed opportunity is a pity but we keep on fighting for that stage win.”
Meanwhile, Caleb Ewan, who had a difficult day on the bike following a crash, expressed gratitude to his teammates for their support. Ewan was dropped early in the stage but managed to reach the finish line with the help of his teammates.
“It is thanks to my teammates that I am still in the Tour. Due to that fast start to the stage, I got dropped already early in the stage and had to find my own pace. I am really grateful that my teammates supported me in getting to the finish in time. Of course, this isn’t an ideal situation, but I keep on fighting for that stage win,” Ewan said.
Despite the setbacks, both Kron and Ewan remain determined to continue their fight for a stage victory in the Tour de France.
