With opportunities for victory fast disappearing for the fast men of the Tour de France, the flat finish to stage 19 was a tantalising prospect.
Green jersey holder, Peter Sagan (Cannondale), German road race champion, Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol), and Roy Curvers, a member of Marcel Kittel’s lead out train for Giant-Shimano, were among those who took to Twitter to voice their opinions about the 208.5km run from Maubourguet Pays du Val d’Adour to Beregerac.
The final outcome would not be to the sprinters’ tastes, however, continuing a theme at this 101st Tour in which the fastest men in the sport have too often failed to gain what they would doubtless regard as their just rewards.
We’ve rounded up the best of the riders’ Tweets to bring you this insight into the minds of the men responsible for the compelling spectacle of cycling’s greatest race.
Again a day for the sprint-suit! #keepchallenging pic.twitter.com/8j0JNIsUIc
— Roy Curvers (@RoyCurvers) July 25, 2014
Do we go for victory today?!#wolverine #letour @cannondalePro pic.twitter.com/A6hWFB69p7 — Peter Sagan (@petosagan) July 25, 2014
This is how fast the incredible work of the @Lotto_Belisol team can be ruined by a crash 3km to go. 2nd time now unlucky because of that! — Andre Greipel (@AndreGreipel) July 25, 2014
5 heures de pédalo ça donne ça!! ☔️ @letour pic.twitter.com/bDrqL8yAHE
— Marcel Sieberg (@MarcelSieberg) July 25, 2014
I was suffering all day today. Bad legs from yesterday I think. Tomorrow TT of 54km on a difficult parcours. Let’s hope for good legs tomorw
— Lars Boom (@lars_boom) July 25, 2014
— Arnaud Demare (@ArnaudDemare) July 25, 2014
Lost my glases half way. Struggled to see something for the last 60km. Never had so much pain in my eyes before #heavyrain
Can you find me? #letour pic.twitter.com/wMgx0iEONf
— Greg Van Avermaet (@GregVanAvermaet) July 26, 2014