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GREEN SWEATER: Kristoff, here on the podium Sunday night, has 64 points after two stages. Big favorite Peter Sagan is 46. Photo: Stuart Franklin / Pool / GETTY POOL
NICE (VG) First, Alexander Kristoff (33) was surprised by Peter Sagan (30). He then gained support after calling the green jersey “a lost cause.”
Unsurprisingly, the Norwegian lost the leader’s yellow jersey on a tough Tour stage on Sunday. He is still leading the battle for points for the green jersey.
Until Peter Sagan there are 18 points. It is still less than at the beginning of the stage, as Sagan got into a break and took important points already after a mile and a half.
– I was surprised when they gave him the gas ban. Therefore, I missed the break where I had plans to ask. He should have asked for points, but there weren’t many when he wasn’t in front, Kristoff tells VG in Nice.
Then he had been on the stage on the promenade of the French city and was presented with the green jersey.
– Did you have plans to follow Sagan?
-Yes. But I “failed” at that. They rode very fast. I really thought I was going incredibly fast already and I thought there would be no rest. But suddenly someone had escaped.
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– Did you sleep a little?
– No, not really. I’m often a bit mean at the beginning of races, just like today, says Kristoff.
See how the 33-year-old celebrated on the bus after Saturday’s victory:
TV 2 expert Thor Hushovd has already encouraged him to fight for the green jersey that Sagan has won seven times before. Kristoff has been lukewarm for a long time. Sunday night seems even less anxious:
When asked by VG if he would give it a try if he pinches Sagan in the third stage on Monday, the 33-year-old responds:
– I don’t have a team around me, that’s the problem. That is why I have no backup. Anyway, it is a lost cause. I drive only in sprints. On Saturday (when he won, editor’s note) I was a bit lucky, I can’t hope I don’t get locked into every question, says Kristoff.
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In Nice, VG met the American cycling journalist Andrew Hood. It is in France for renowned Velonews.
Hood understands Kristoff’s reasoning:
– Kristoff makes an honest assessment of the situation. The United Arab Emirates have traveled to the Tour de France with a team built around Pogacar in the mountains, so Kristoff’s independent victory on Saturday was probably a surprise even for the team. The big favorite Peter Sagan already showed on Sunday’s stage that he has the necessary legs to survive in the mountains. So Kristoff is smart when he forgets the green jersey and prefers several stage wins, he says.
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe won Sunday’s Tour stage, after three riders managed to escape towards the end of the day.
On Monday awaits a stage with three third category stignins, as well as a fourth category.
– I think it ends with a sprint. On paper, the stage seems easier than the first day. So I bet we’re fighting for stage win, says Kristoff.
