Tour de FranceZimmermann criticises motorbikes

DPA

 · 21.07.2023

Tour de France: Zimmermann criticises motorbikesPhoto: Jasper Jacobs/Belga/dpa
Georg Zimmermann vom Team Intermarche-Circus-Wanty.
Professional cyclist Georg Zimmermann has criticised the influence of motorbikes in the Tour de France.

"A huge problem in cycling and, in my opinion, the biggest distortion of competition at the moment is that the motorbikes provide slipstreaming," said the 25-year-old from Augsburg in an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".

Tour de France: Motorcycles always in the spotlight

This is not a new problem, but it is repeatedly criticised by the riders. "If you're second and ten seconds behind someone with a motorbike in front of you, then you can pant your heart out as much as you like, you can't get there," Zimmermann continued. The mountain specialist has put in a strong performance on his third tour so far. His highlight came when he came second on the tenth stage and only narrowly missed out on the stage win.

At the current Tour, there were mainly negative headlines because two press motorbikes slowed down Tadej Pogacar before the top of the Col de Joux Plane, preventing the Slovenian from attacking Jonas Vingegaard. The Tour organisation ASO then punished the two motorcyclists as well as the cameraman and photographer.

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