🤬 Buitrago v Ciccone 😱 🥊 A must-watch confrontation as the Colombian is called out by last year’s @LeTour de France mountains classification winner for his presumed actions during Stage 19. #TDF2024 | @SBS & @SBSOnDemand | June 29 - July 21
🎥 Ciccone and Buitrago argue: "We saw what you did, this isn't right"
CyclingSaturday, 20 July 2024 at 08:05
With Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel seemingly locking down the Tour de France podium, the fight for places behind them remains open. There could still be some major changes between riders in the GC. The mountain stage on Saturday near Nice is crucial for climbers, sparking a dispute between Santiago Buitrago and Giulio Ciccone on Friday.
The battle for fourth place seemed set between Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS), Joao Almeida (UAE), and Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), but Rodriguez lost significant time to his rivals on Friday. "It went well, but not as expected. My rivals seem stronger because I gave it my all," he said.
"There was nothing more I could do, so I have to be satisfied. There are still two tough days left and the Tour isn't over, so I'll keep giving my all," stated the Spaniard, now two minutes behind fifth-place Landa. Landa, in turn, is 27 seconds behind Almeida. "I'd like to challenge for fourth place, but only if Remco Evenepoel doesn't need me. We can race aggressively since Remco might still take second place from Jonas Vingegaard," he told Eurosport.
Battle for spot in top ten promises to be fierce
Adam Yates is currently seventh, but the battle for eighth to eleventh place is fierce. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R) was in contention but had to drop back on the Bonette on Friday. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) moved up in the GC through a breakaway and is now ninth.
This positions Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) just outside the top ten, with Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) ten seconds ahead of the Colombian. Following the stage, Australian TV cameras captured a heated exchange between the two. "Hey, we were three men behind you. We saw everything, with your water bottle. This isn't right, this is the Tour de France," Ciccone accused, hinting at a sticky bottle from his rival.
Buitrago coolly responded, "I learned that from you," as the argument continued. The stage on Saturday is set to be intense, as both riders are eager to secure their first top ten finish in the Tour de France.
Derek Gee, currently eighth, acknowledges that the margins are slim. His lead over Jorgenson and tenth-place Ciccone is less than a minute. "I'm happy with my performance and being in the top ten, but right after crossing the finish line, I was already thinking about Saturday."
"That will be another tough one, but I could hold on longer than expected on Isola 2000. We did a high-altitude training camp here before the Tour, so I knew exactly how far I could push on that final climb. The legs felt good," Gee shared.
Gall lost twelve minutes. "Of course, I'm disappointed because this is a stage where I usually should be gaining time. I haven't felt great the past few days, but I experienced this last year too. It's frustrating to fight for your place for two and a half weeks and then feel this bad, but it's part of the sport. I have to accept it."
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Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024