Weakened Geschke gives up at Tour de France

Simon Geschke, who is in poor health, has abandoned the Tour de France.

The 37-year-old came off his bike exhausted about 73 kilometres before the finish in Bourg-en-Bresse on the 18th stage. Geschke had already fought his way to the finish just before the time limit on the last Alpine stage the day before. "Get through. If I can't, go home," the Freiburg native had told ARD before the start. In the end, Geschke gave up for the first time in his eleventh Tour participation.

In the previous year, the climbing specialist had worn the mountain jersey for nine days and experienced a fantastic tour. The eventual overall winner Jonas Vingegaard won the mountain jersey just ahead of Geschke, but he was allowed to wear it on his behalf all the way to Paris.

"I think there's something wrong with my stomach"

Only five of the seven German pros are still in the race. On Wednesday, sprinter Phil Bauhaus retired exhausted. Geschke crossed the finish line in Courchevel around 80 seconds before the time limit expired. "I felt bad from the start of the race. I vomited twice after the race and had the shivers. I think there's something wrong with my stomach," said Geschke. Nikias Arndt, Emanuel Buchmann, Nils Politt, Georg Zimmermann and John Degenkolb are still in the race.

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