Thiezac, France ¨C Cycling¡¯s Tour de France has become so hard that only ¡°global superstars¡± are able to win even a single stage, French champion Romain Gregoire moaned on Monday¡¯s first rest day.
Gregoire, who is a punchy racer but not a pure climber, won the French title a week before the Tour began in what had been the 23-year-old¡¯s best season to date, including top four finishes in major one-day classics such as Strade Bianche and the Amstel Gold race.
But he wilted under the intense heat and breakneck pace of the Tour¡¯s opening week and already finds himself an hour and a quarter down on race leader Tadej Pogacar in 60th place.
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