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Alexander Kristoff wore yellow and felt like a king in the second stage of the Tour de France, but the Norwegian did not join the break to fight for points in the sprint.
TV 2 cycling expert Thor Hushovd, who even before the tough mountain stage expected Kristoff to get away on a break, believes the compatriot should go for the green points jersey at the Tour de France.
So it was unfavorable for Peter Sagan to get involved at halftime, while Kristoff stayed in front of the main field.
If you want to participate in the battle for the green jersey, you must seize every opportunity. You saw in the first stage how awake Sagan was when he sprinted past the finish line for the penultimate time, and now he does it again. He is so smart and alert. You have to be vigilant, and at least not let Sagan get away with it and take valuable points, says Thor Hushovd.
The position of the dotted jersey
1. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), 64 p.
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe), 46 p.
3. Matteo Trentin (CCC Team), 36 p.
4. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step), 35 p.
5. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), 30 p.
– He should have been involved in the infraction.
Hushovd knows what it’s all about, because the boy from Grimstad won the green jersey at the Tour de France in both 2005 and 2009.
– Kristoff is a very solid rider and will be there for every sprint, and he can also sneak around on breaks and win sprints along the way. He has been number two behind Sagan twice, but he can’t give up because Sagan has won seven times before. He should have been involved in the breakup, says the TV 2 cycling expert.
It was Matteo Trentin who won the sprint against his teammate Sagan. Kristoff was second in the main field behind Sam Bennett. Thus, Sagan is now just 18 points behind Kristoff in the battle for the points jersey.
This is how Kristoff responds to Hushovd’s clear advice
Here’s how Kristoff answered questions about the green jersey on Saturday night:
– I was never close to winning the green jersey, because Sagan has been way ahead. I’ve been number two twice, but there was a sea of points between us. This is a special Tour and many things can happen. I think I can score a lot of points, not necessarily because I think I can win the jersey, but because it is important considering the sprints later on. I can ask on the trail in the mountain stages to keep my sprint legs warm, he says.
You think Sagan shows weakness
However, TV 2 experts believe that Sagan has shown weakness so far.
– Trentin is not a man who strives, but in that sprint we saw that Sagan is not the sprinter he has been. From a normal green year you will lose some points in the decisive sprints. You are used to being number one, two or three, but now it can be four, five or six. Yesterday was number five, says Johan Kaggestad.
– I cried in my dad’s arms
– I don’t think Sagan is as sharp as what we’ve seen before, says Mads Kaggestad.
Hushovd believes Sagan needs time to get back in shape after the long crown break, but believes Sagan is not in his prime.
– I don’t think it’s the Peter Sagan of the best years who plays on the field, passes and wins as before. I feel like he’s not the same, but he’s in his place, he’s involved in resting and he has a nose for cycling, so I think we’ll see a lot of him, says Hushovd.
Points will be awarded to the first riders to finish on Sunday’s stage, but none of the riders fighting for the points jersey are expected to be there.
