"A stage like that doesn’t belong in the Tour" - Richard Plugge doesn't agree with addition of gravel stages at Grand Tours

The stage all teams feared since the route presentation last winter is here. The ninth stage in the surroundings of Troyes could shake up the general classification and that's why all favourites' teams tried to prepare for the day as best as they knew. However Visma | Lease a Bike's manager Richard Plugge is still unsure whether such stage has its place at the Grande Boucle.

"A stage like that doesn’t belong in the Tour," Plugge confides to WielerFlits. "I agree with Patrick Lefevere. Why would you bring back the unlucky factor in the Tour with a gravel stage? I think the Tour is capable of creating fantastic stages, so I don’t need that gravel stage."

"They are those gravel strips between vineyards. There are those really sharp stones. I wonder why you would look for it. There is no need. We seem to be the only sport that always has to go back in time, instead of innovating. At the same time, we have to prepare ourselves, and that is what we do. We are fully prepared to prevent or solve everything, if something happens. But suppose someone from the top four or five gets a flat tire, what are we doing it all for?"

Plugge does not think the gravel stage around Troyes is entirely comparable to a cobblestone stage. "You normally do not get a flat tire that quickly on cobblestones. That is something that is 'normal'. On the other hand: a cobblestone stage like that is not often in the Tour, it has been two years already. But we have never looked for this. Gravel is fun for amateurs, there are really nice new gran fondos. But let's just stick to asphalt here, in this sport. That's hard enough. The asphalt here isn't always in tip-top condition either. Riders regularly fall because of that. So let's just keep safety in mind."