Tour de France: Lipowitz to the moment of terror as third in the direction of Alps

Florian Lipowitz was “just happy to be at the finish at the end of the 15th tour stage. After the hard days in the Pyrenees, Germany’s Rad-Jungstar had actually hoped for a more relaxed trip to Carcassonne. But nothing came of it. The hectic initial phase caused a moment of fright with the 24-year-old.

“I had a little fall, like 20, 30 kilometers after the start. After that it was super hard to get back. I didn’t have the best legs today,” said Lipowitz of the ARD. “But luckily I didn’t hurt myself.” Now he is just looking forward to the day of rest.

On the midsummer Sunday in southern France, Lipowitz defended his third place in the overall ranking and the white jersey of the best young professional. Rolf Aldag, sporting director at the Red Bull team, dampened the high expectations of the young Swabians. The white jersey has not yet been won. “We’ll have that now. If you are in Paris, that’s definitely a reason to celebrate. Now we’re just three. Now we are practically the hunted. It doesn’t make it easier.”

Lipowitz can continue to hope for the podium in Paris on his first tour of France. Since 2006 he would be the first German cyclist to be on the tour podium. At that time Andreas Klöden took second place.

In the overall classification, Lipowitz is still 7:53 minutes behind defending champion and tour dominator Tadej Pogacar in the yellow jersey and its permanent rival Jonas Vingegaard (3:40 minutes). The former biathlete already has a lead of 1:25 minutes on the fourth -placed Oscar onley.

Lipowitz is happy about the enthusiasm in Germany

“I get a lot of news. Everyone is happy with me. I hope I don’t put too much pressure on myself,” said Lipowitz the ARD before the start of the 15th stage. “It is nice to see that so many people in Germany are looking at cycling and are thrilled.”

In Carcassonne, Lipowitz rolled across the finish line along the side of tour dominator Pogacar and Vingegaard in the main field. The trio waived mutual attacks and protected the forces for the upcoming hard climbing parts in the Alps. After 169.3 hilly kilometers, the outlier Tim Wellens won the day. The 34-year-old Belgian from the Pogacar team won in front of his compatriot Victor Campenaerts and the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe.

For the UAE team it was already the fifth stage victory on this tour – Pogacar had triumphed four times, now Wellens. “I think it never gets boring. We drive exciting races. We are hot for more,” said Nils Politt about his team’s dominance.

Hectic start and fair play

The hectic first kilometers also showed that the path for Lipowitz to the Champs-élysées in the French capital was still long and full of dangers. At the beginning of the 15th stage, it was stopped like a large part of the field by a fall of Alaphilippe. Lipowitz also fell at low speed and first missed the connection to the top group around Pogacar.

With the help of his Red Bull team, the career changer, who had only changed the sport five years ago, made it quickly to the main field. “Lipo lost the chain. It took a while to make it again for a while,” said Aldag.

In addition, Pogacar was informed by his UAE team by radio that in addition to Lipowitz, Vingegaard had also lost the connection due to the fall. The Slovenian then throttled the pace and dropped back. It was a gesture of the fair play, because the Slovenian exceptional driver had fallen on the eleventh stage a few kilometers before the finish in Toulouse. At that time, the competition had also waited for him and dispensed with attacks.

Lipowitz ‘fairytale days in the Pyrenees

Lipowitz feels “a bit like in a fairy tale” at his tour premiere. After the performance in the Pyrenees, self -confidence increased from stage to stage. “I think I’ve already shown a lot so far. I can ride at the front,” he said on Saturday after the climbing section over almost 5,000 meters of altitude to the Luchon Superbagnéres ski station.

His focus is now on the last tour week when it comes to the heavy Alpine stages. “It will be the decisive factor,” explains Lipowitz. “I hope that the legs hold out and also survive the last week. I will do my best.”

After the rest day on Monday, the Mont Ventoux is on the program on the 16th stage on Tuesday with the Mont Ventoux for the drivers and fans. From Montpellier it goes over 171.5 kilometers up to the mountain arrival on the legendary tour classic at 1,910 meters.