‘Moto Drivers Played a Part’: Quinn Simmons Slams Camera Bike Influence in Wellens Win

CARCASSONNE, France (Velo) – Stage 15 saw another brave Tour de France breakaway for Quinn Simmons and another near miss in his all-action race so far.

Hanging meterrs off his back wheel, he was close to escaping with Tim Wellens after the Belgian champion made his bold winning move on the Col de Fontbruno, 42 kilometers from the finish in Carcassonne.

The Coloradan’s final result of 21st in a large group sprint Sunday was no reflection of his strength or influence on the race, helping to pull away a decisive five-man group with 54km to go and forcing the issue regularly during the day.

This performance comes hot on the heels of a second place for in-form Simmons on stage six to Vire and ninth place on stage 11.

Motos ‘part of the Tour game’

Warming down on the rollers outside the Lidl-Trek team bus, Simmons had a few things to say about what went wrong afterwards.

“It’s the third time this week that I think the moto drivers have played a little part in the victory here,” Simmons told Velo and several other media.

TV camera motorbikes often sit in front of race breakaways or the peloton, with occasional passes also taking place by motos carrying photographers.

“It’s unfortunate but we know this is the game of the Tour. Luckily if you’re the one that gets away, you get this advantage and there’s no chance for the group behind.”

Asked to elaborate on what he meant by Velo, Simmons said: “I think you watched the coverage, didn’t you? I think you saw what I meant.”

Wellens responds: ‘The legs did the work today, not the moto’

Stage 15 winner Tim Wellens was sanguine when asked by Velo in the post-race press conference about whether he got an advantage.

“I think it’s a little bit optimistic from Quinn to say I win because of the moto. I think the legs were very good, I don’t think the moto played a part in my victory.

“I hope not. But if it’s the case, I think Quinn could also attack first and take the moto’s help – if there was help. But today, I think the legs did the work, not the moto.”

Thomas talks moto influence

The American road race champion is not the only rider to recently complain about motorbike influence on the Tour de France.

Talking after Thursday’s stage 12 to Hautacam, peloton veteran Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) commented that the motorbike was sitting 20 to 30 meters ahead of the peloton.

“At 54 kilometers per hour, you get a slipstream, that’s for sure,” he said. “Everyone was complaining.”

It is not a pro cyclist’s fault – if a vehicle close enough for a draft, of course they are going to make the most of it.

“It’s a known problem in cycling. The guys on the motorbikes are just doing their job, which is to get footage, but that can change the race,” Thomas said.

Simmons on ‘grade A, cat 5′ breakaway tactics

On a hectic day of shifting scenarios, where countless attacks shot off the front and folded back into the bunch, Simmons joined a larger breakaway group in a counter-attack over the day’s first climb and emerged in front with seven other riders.

He moved clearer over the Pas du Sant, 55 kilometers from the finish, joined by Wellens, Victor Campenaerts, Michael Storer, Alexander Vlasov and Warren Barguil over the grinding final climb of the day.

Simmons found that the breakaway lacked cohesion. “Some grade A cat-five tactics today,” he said.

“But it’s how it is, Wellens did a super strong ride. In the end, I think there was only one situation for today and that was it be super hard and a really strong rider get away in the final.”

“This morning, we had a few differences of opinion on what was going to happen in the stage,” he added. “And unfortunately, I had to spend a bit of energy controlling in the start for something that probably was never going to happen. But you have to do what the radio says.”

Simmons’ sports director Steven De Jongh suggested Velo there were no conflicting plans as Simmons was allowed to go in big groups from the start.

However, the team were also seeking green jersey points at the intermediate sprint but Jonathan Milan “did not have the legs today”, leading to Lidl-Trek stopping pulling when the gap was 45 seconds.

‘Strange’ tactics and little cohesion

“I think the whole day, everyone’s tactics were a bit strange,” Simmons said. “We had such strong groups, but we never really working well together.

“Then when a guy like Wellens goes, we all need to commit. Unfortunately, we had Campenaerts just sitting there muttering something about Van Aert the whole time.

“No one else really committed when there’s one guy who’s playing a bit of games. It’s how it is.”

Despite not getting the result he wanted, Simmons has been one of the strongmen of the Tour, up the road in four breakaways, showing his bright US champion’s jersey and super-strong legs. “He is in the shape of his life,” De Jongh said.

If he has his way, it will not be the last time the 24-year-old is up the road in this race.

“There’s still two, maybe three, opportunities in the third week, so hopefully the legs stay ok,” he said.

“I’m not here for the most aggressive of the day, I’m here to win a stage.”