Greig Leach

Not only were the race conditions less than ideal, the stage wasn't going great for Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck Quick Step) either. On the descent off the only categorized climb, his front wheel locked up. He waited a long time for his team car, and once there the mechanic couldn't get the front wheel off either. The better option after too much time had been spent was to give him his back up bike. Something else must not have been right, because Alaphilippe, normally a great descender, had a terrible time negotiating the tricky corners off of the Cote de Rimiez. I just recently got a new bike with disc brakes and was very surprised that they don't have quick release skewers. That is why the mechanic as a cordless drill. He needs to drive a hex head wrench to free the front wheel (or the back) to effect a wheel change. At least Alaphilippe was able to rejoin, and to even help with the lead out at the end of the stage.