‘This is no longer possible’: Visma sounds alarm after Alpe d’Huez chaos

Visma | Lease a Bike had done almost everything right.

The team placed Matteo Jorgenson, Bruno Armirail, Davide Piganzoli and Sepp Kuss in the early breakaway, then committed fully to Kuss as the move built an advantage of three minutes and 20 seconds before the decisive ascent of Alpe d’Huez.

On most days, Reef believed, that margin would have been enough to give the American a serious chance of winning.

This was not most days. Tadej Pogačar eventually closed the gap and powered to victory, while Kuss had to settle for fourth after a long afternoon at the front.

“I think we rode a very good stage,” Reef told WielerFlits after the finish. “We had four riders in the breakaway straight away and, from the beginning, we played the Sepp card.

“We wanted the gap to be as large as possible at the foot of Alpe d’Huez. Bruno [Armirail] was incredibly strong today and played a major role in getting us there with around three minutes and 20 seconds."

“We hoped it would be enough, but it was just not enough.”

The escapees’ chances began to fade when cooperation at the front gave way to tactics. With a Tour de France stage victory suddenly within reach, the steady pace disappeared and the leading riders began watching and attacking one another.

Reef said Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez were particularly effective once the race became more tactical.

“They all knew they could be riding for the victory, and then the game starts,” he explained.

“Carapaz and Martinez are very driven in those situations. They have a little more of that killer instinct."

“Sepp [Kuss] did what he could. I think he rode very well and chose his moment to go. In the end, he was less strong than the other riders, and fourth was the maximum result possible.”

The sporting disappointment, however, was soon overtaken by concern about the conditions on the climb. Huge crowds had gathered along the 13.7 kilometre ascent, often leaving riders, motorcycles and team cars with barely enough space to pass.

Fans repeatedly waited until the final moment before moving aside. At several points, the road became so congested that race vehicles were forced to stop completely.

Reef said the situation had crossed a line. “What happened today cannot continue."

“We were completely stationary several times with the team cars, while the group behind was getting closer."

“For the fans it is fantastic," Reef continued. "On television it probably looked fantastic as well. But for the sport, it is no longer possible like this.”

The risks were underlined by a serious crash involving Einer Rubio.

The Movistar rider collided with the rear of a UAE Team Emirates-XRG car during the ascent. Video footage appeared to show the vehicle braking sharply after a spectator stepped into the road, leaving Rubio with no time to avoid the impact.

Movistar later confirmed that the Colombian had abandoned the race. He required around 20 stitches to his face and was transferred to a hospital in Grenoble for further examinations.

“I believe Rubio crashed into something and had blood all over his face,” Reef said. “We were standing still several times."

“I think it is also influencing the race when things happen in this way.”

Pogačar was himself forced to navigate spectators who remained in the road until the last possible moment.

Reef was careful not to suggest that the congestion had decided the result. In his view, Pogačar had simply delivered the strongest performance.

“I think everybody was hindered at some point by spectators who only moved away at the last second,” Reef said.

“He still produced the best performance on Alpe d’Huez. He was the strongest, so he deserved to win.”

Reef believes the Tour organisers may now have little choice but to introduce barriers along the entire climb if Alpe d’Huez is to remain part of the race in its current form.

“I think the only way you can still race on Alpe d’Huez is by placing barriers along all 13 kilometres,” he said.