Schachmann on the heat: "Some were on the ropes"

Temperatures of up to 40 degrees

"There were one or two crashes due to the heat. I wasn't completely over it, but some were really on the ropes," said Schachmann on the final rest day of the Tour de France. Temperatures of up to 40 degrees were measured on Sunday's stage to Carcassonne in particular.

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200 kilometres a day at 35 to 40 degrees is difficult to manage. You reach your human limits, says Schachmann: "Everyone suffers. I lost a bottle, so you're almost finished. The next refreshment then comes ten kilometres later."

Bike race instead of pool

Politt, who was in a breakaway group for 145 kilometres, is also struggling with the heat. "Everyone knows when they've been on holiday and it's 40 degrees. Everyone is happy to lie by the pool and we're cycling at the same time. That's a big strain on the body. We have to get through it," said the German champion.

Nevertheless, the cycling pros of the Bora-Hansgrohe-teams still had a short training session on the programme on Monday. However, Lennard Kämna, who narrowly missed out on a stage win and the yellow jersey, did not take part due to an infection and stayed in his hotel room. However, his corona test came back negative.

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