“Couldn’t eat anymore”
Geschke puts an end to the torments of the Tour de France
7/21/2023 8:07 am
Last year Simon Geschke fought for a long time for the mountain jersey at the Tour de France – this year the mountains of the Tour de France rob the German professional cyclist of his last strength. After collapsing after stage 17, the 37-year-old got off his bike during stage 18.
Exhausted, Simon Geschke climbed out of the support car, took a selfie with a fan, and then the veteran star said goodbye to the 110th Tour de France. It’s over and done – his possibly last journey in the world’s biggest cycle race doesn’t end in Paris, instead the native of Berlin is already on his way home this Friday. Plagued by stomach problems, Geschke ended his personal tour of suffering on the 18th stage, which Kasper Asgreen used to continue the Danish festival, 73 kilometers from the finish in Bourg-en-Bresse.
“I’m not doing so well. I just couldn’t eat anymore,” said Geschke, adding: “It’s a stomach thing for me.” In the finish area he had already changed his jersey for a bright red training shirt. During the strenuous stage in the Alps the day before, he had exhausted himself too much,explained Geschke. “I was alone on the fourth category mountain. Another 80 kilometers alone, especially after yesterday when I was completely empty, I simply had no more reserves,” said the 37-year-old.
With his victory after 184.9 kilometers as part of a breakaway group in front of Dutchman Pascal Eenkhorn and Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen, the 28-year-old Asgreen caused the next party for the Danes. It was the third stage win this year after Mads Pedersen and Jonas Vingegaard. “The win means a lot to me. I had a tough last year with the crash at the Tour de Suisse. I dedicate the win to the people who helped me there,” said Asgreen. In the last week of the tour, a small group could also get through against the sprinters, he pushed afterwards.
Five out of seven Germans are still there
Geschke, on the other hand, simply had no strength left to fight his way through. He now has to follow the final act in Paris as a spectator. However, given his health problems, the task seemed logical. The day before, the man from Freiburg, completely exhausted, crossed the finish line at 2003 meters in Courchevel a few meters before the broom car. Just 80 seconds saved him from the time limit, narrowly avoiding disqualification. Geschke then vomited on the way to the hotel and suffered from chills. Last year he narrowly missed out on winning the mountain jersey, but this time nothing worked on the mountain.
Of the seven German professionals, only five are still in the race. Phil Bauhaus, who had previously celebrated three podium finishes in the sprint stages, had already given up exhausted on Wednesday. “The tour was brutally difficult this year. I would have liked to have arrived in Paris with him,” said teammate Nikias Arndt.
As expected, nothing changed at the top of the overall standings. Denmark’s defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is still 7:35 ahead of his rival Tadej Pogacar after his strong performances in the Alps. With three remaining stages to Paris, the 26-year-old can probably only win the Tour if he falls. Incidentally, Vingegaard’s colleague Wout van Aert would have been a promising candidate for the day’s win on Thursday. However, the Belgian did not even start. Vingegaard’s helper left the tour before the 18th leg. The reason: His wife Sarah is expecting the second child.