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Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) is the new race leader of the Tour de France, after the race stewards imposed a time penalty on Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) for an illegal feeding in the last 20km of the stage 5 to Privas.
The Frenchman has held a four-second lead over the Briton since Stage 2, where he achieved his fifth career Tour stage win in Nice when Yates finished third, one second down.
Post-stage replays showed Alaphilippe receiving a jerry can from a Deceuninck-QuickStep soigneur with 17.1km to go during an otherwise quiet Stage 5.
UCI regulations state that “unauthorized feeding” in the last 20 km of a stage carries a fine of CHF 200 and a penalty of 20 seconds per offense. Alaphilippe will therefore drop to 16th place in the general classification.
“Apparently I ate a meal in an unauthorized area,” Alaphilippe said after the end. “That’s a 20-second penalty, so it’s Yates in the yellow jersey, normally, I don’t know. I’m waiting for confirmation, make it official. If that’s the case, that’s right. It’s the decision.” of the jury, so I can’t do anything about it.
“Not at all. Not at all,” he added when asked if he felt he had done something wrong.
“It was a very long and very boring stage, with a very nervous ending. I had to stay focused to defend the shirt and try to win the stage with Sam. [Bennett], which is in green, which is good news. But that’s it, if that’s the way it is, don’t worry, I’ll get up tomorrow and we won’t talk about it anymore. “
Yates said it was not the way he would have wanted to take the yellow jersey, adding that he will continue to aim for stage wins, his stated goal for this Tour.
“I don’t think any rider wants to wear the jersey like this,” he said. “I just found out now that Julian had taken a late shot, but I don’t think, like I said, that anyone wants to take the jersey like that. I wanted to try something tomorrow, but I guess we will wear the jersey tomorrow now, but I will continue as normal and try to win stages “.
The 28-year-old, who will move to Ineos Grenadiers for 2021, was seen discussing the situation with Alaphilippe behind the podium after the stage. Yates said he was just trying to find out what had happened.
“I only asked him what happened because I only found out two minutes ago what happened. He only told me that he had a food or a bottle in the last 20 km. As I said before, this is not the way you want to take the shirt Tomorrow we will have to put on the shirt and wear it stage by stage.
“I was already on the bus for a long time, I had already showered and was ready to go home. But the director came up to me and said I had to come here. [for the jersey ceremony.
“I think [stage 6 to Mont Aigoual] it will be a great battle. Anyway, I was going to try something tomorrow. I am here in stages more than in the general, so I will continue like this. “
