[/su_column] [su_quote cite=»BENOIT COSNEFROY»]
BENOIT COSNEFROY: «I was determined to defend him.»
»It was a beautiful day, and I was determined to defend this polka dot jersey. I broke away with Anthony Perez, who beat me on the first two climbs. On the third climb, Anthony got a puncture and then abandoned after falling on the descent. My thoughts are with him tonight; he deserved to wear this polka dot jersey. It feels strange to keep it in these circumstances, even though I'm proud to wear it. I fell myself when I was carefully riding at the back of the peloton to avoid taking any risks four kilometres from the finish. That's my second fall in three days, on the same injuries, but that's the way it is, that's the Tour.»[/su_quote]
THE FIGURE
1971
During the first stage finish of the Tour in 1971 in Orcières Merlette, Vincent Lavenu, aged 15 and originally from Briançon, watched Luis Ocana's victory as a spectator. «That's one of the memories that fuelled my passion for cycling,» he says.
NEWS
Knee, elbow and hip injuries for Benoit Cosnefroy
Benoit Cosnefroy fell on his right side, as he did in his crash on the first stage. He has wounds on his knees, elbows and hips, according to Dr Eric Bouvat, medical director of the AG2R LA MONDIALE team.
