Geschke relishing freedom of Kittel's absence

Simon Geschke said he was relishing the freedom he's been given due to the absence of team-mate Marcel Kittel at the Tour de France.

The 29-year-old German won Wednesday's 161km 17th stage after a daring solo breakaway almost 50km from the finish in Pra Loup.

But he admitted he probably wouldn't have been given that opportunity had Giant-Alpecin colleague Kittel been fit to ride the Tour.

"Today was not even a half chance: the tactic to go with roughly 50km to go, maybe I didn't have the biggest chances," he said.

"It was a tactic that could work out, it was mainly the will-force (willpower) and even for the team it's a pretty unusual victory because the last few years it's only in bunch sprints that we won (with Kittel).

"In the public people saw us more for bunch sprints, but now we have Warren Barguil, who can maybe finish in the top 10.

"With no Marcel there are different tactics. We can do sprints with John (Degenkolb) but we had to change the team a little bit.

"That's the reason I was selected for the Tour, to go in breakaways and try to take my chances up there, even if it's just a small chance, and to race and just try to entertain."

Geschke's joy was matched by Frenchman Thibaut Pinot's disappointment.

The 25-year-old, who was third overall last year, was chasing the German on the final descent when he crashed.

That caused him to lose confidence in his descending skills and he was passed by four riders before reaching the bottom, although he recovered a bit to finish fourth.

Pinot, though, vowed to keep on trying to earn a first Tour stage win.

"I don't know why I fell, I was blocked. It's a shame because I'd done the hardest part.

"I'll try against tomorrow (Thursday) and every day until Saturday.

"My legs feel good and I don't want to have any regrets when I reach Paris."

Pinot's overall aspirations suffered in the first week of the race when he lost more than three minutes after a mechanical problem on the cobbled fourth stage.

He then cracked in the Pyrenees and is currently 18th and more than 26 minutes off race leader Chris Froome.

But he has refocussed on simply winning a stage now.
Source: AFP