#TDF2022 It doesn't get much closer than that after a fierce return to racing at @LeTour 🔥 Chapeau, @nick_schultz5! 👏 We ain't done yet!
Tour de France finale "was almost perfect" but heartbreaking for Nick Schultz
CyclingTuesday, 12 July 2022 at 22:00
Nick Schultz has two wins in his career, at the Herald Sun Tour and the Sazka Tour but today he was on the brink of taking a mountainous Tour de France stage. However the Team BikeExchange - Jayco rider could only manage second on the line in Megève.
“It was a very tough day today. I actually had bad legs at the start. However, my teammates helped me get into the break of the day," Schultz said in a flash interview after crossing the finish line. "At first I was a bit worried, I really didn't feel well. Luckily I had Jack Bauer with me in the break of the day, he checked the group all day long. This allowed me to save myself and gain strength.”
The Australian was a part of the winning move and proved to have the legs to win in the final ascent. Bauer put in a strong effort at the front in the base of the climb, and when it mattered inside the final kilometers Schultz attacked to bridge across to Luis Léon Sanchez who had attacked earlier. Carrying a strong sprint and clearly strong legs, he was the main favourite to win entering the final straight, however the situation quickly changed.
“I have never been in such a situation. It was almost perfect, although I might have gone a little too fast," he said. Having several riders enter the fight in the final uphill ramp to the line saw Magnus Cort Nielsen enter contention, who then beat in a photo-finish the 27-year old. A disappointing result, nevertheless one that promises more over the coming weeks of the Tour.
"I am very happy with my second place, but also really disappointed. You don't get such a big chance every day, but I'm going to keep trying," Schultz concluded. He will be looking for stage wins later in the race, although his best opportunities are now behind him.
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- yeah, that’s a more fair assessment. “reaching mathieu’s level” doesn’t mean you’re planning to replicate his whole career. the former IS doable, potentially. it’s just the latter that likely is not.OCexile25-12-2024
- That’s not entirely true. Every person follows their own development path and peaks differently. Remco and Primoz had hardly started cycling before elite level. Jonas was pretty much under the radzr until he unexpectedly had to take over responsibility at JV. Some guys only get real good in their thirties others have peaked mid-twenties. You can’t tell in advance how and upto what level they will progress, obviously his career might not have MVDPs length but nothing says he could not end up doing a few seasons at his level.Mistermaumau25-12-2024
- well, del grosso is 21 right now. when mathieu was a year younger than that, he was already winning elite level world championships, not U23. i think del grosso will be a very good pro for years, but if he was really going to be the next van der poel someday, he’d already have to be at that level right NOW. van der poel was showing signs of true greatness when he was 15-16. THAT’S what generational talent looks like.OCexile25-12-2024
- Yeah.... gear 😅.mikolajjj24-12-2024
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- The UCI is worse than USA CyclingVeganpotter24-12-2024
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- Bruyneel ? The man with a lifetime ban from cycling...why do you keep giving him and his doper mate, Armstrong, a platform?DJ24-12-2024
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