Simon Geschke (Cofidis) was keen to get changed. When the professional cyclist arrived in the village of Castelnau-Magnoac on Friday morning to register for the 19th stage of the Tour de France he felt somehow out of place in his outfit.
"Now I'm the guy who rides around in the jersey but doesn't lead the classification," said the Berlin. Geschke wore that famous jersey with the red dots on a white background for nine days as leader of the mountains classification. It was a marvellous nine days for Geschke, during which he occasionally dreamed of reaching Paris in this jersey.
Geschke no longer in the mountain jersey
And he will now, if everything goes normally. However, in a rather macabre way for the 36-year-old. Geschke is now only second in the mountain classification, eight points behind the Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), which can no longer be made up. He is only allowed to ride in the so-called polka dot jersey because Vingegaard is the overall leader in the yellow jersey. "If I had the choice, I would start in my normal jersey. Now I have to wear the jersey until Paris," said the Cofidis pro.
Geschke's marvellous Tour adventure practically ended at the Col d'Aubisque. The legendary climb in the Pyrenees was the first of the final mountain stage on Thursday. And Geschke knew that this was the finish line. If he finished first there and scored 20 points, he would have achieved something historic. Geschke would have been the first German to win the Tour's mountain classification. But despite immense efforts, Geschke did not manage to score points on the Aubisque. Vingegaard pulled away with his stage win in Hautacam finally passed him.
Geschke proud of his team-mates
Geschke ultimately had neither the legs nor the team after the exhausting nine days. As a jersey wearer, there are various additional obligations for a professional. On the podium every day, signing jerseys, doping controls, numerous interviews. That kind of thing is stressful, especially on a three-week tour. In addition, Geschke's team was decimated to just five riders due to three withdrawals. You can't close every gap, you can't follow every attack.
The Berliner's feelings about losing the jersey were correspondingly mixed. "I'm happy that it's over, but also sad that it wasn't enough. I'm proud of my team-mates and second place - and of course overwhelmed by the support from Germany," said Geschke. You can't blame yourself for anything.
Geschke promotes the sport of cycling
On the contrary. After his initially rather accidental ride to the mountain jersey, Geschke has been promoting cycling with his dogged and self-sacrificing fighting spirit - in Germany and France. As Geschke is riding for the chronically unsuccessful Cofidis team in the Tour, which has been waiting 14 years for a stage win in the world's biggest cycling race, the hearts of the French naturally flew to him. "Allez Simon" or "Bravo Simon" were still being shouted at him by the fans on the roadside as he rolled back from the Hautacam ski station to the bus in defeat.
Geschke's superiors were also satisfied. "When we see Jonas Vingegaard win the mountain jersey, then we have nothing to regret," said sports director Bingen Fernandez. A second place behind the overall winner was still very honourable.
Last Tour de France for Geschke?
Geschke is sure to enjoy the ride to Paris in unfamiliar clothes. It may even be the last time that the experienced cyclist rides to the French capital.
His contract with Cofidis expires at the end of next year. And in what could be his last year as a professional, Geschke would like to ride the Giro d'Italia once again and thus forgo the Tour.
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