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Lidl-Trek have responded to Quinn Simmons’ striking comments about the team’s goals at the Tour de France, acknowledging a sense of “frustration” from the US champion but insisting the team’s battle plan is not going to change.
That much was clear on the road to Voiron on Wednesday, when Simmons was part of an unruly breakaway that also featured his teammate Mads Pedersen, whose green jersey is the team’s primary focus outside the general classification.
“I think the team has made it quite obvious they care more that Mads wins the green than I win a stage," Simmons said on Sunday. "And you know, at the end of the day, they write my paycheck, so I have to do what I'm told, and I'm fully here to support Mads in that in that goal to win the green jersey.”
Although he never threatened to step out of line, Simmons’ comments caused quite a stir. Responding on Wednesday in conversation with Cyclingnews, Sports Director Steven De Jongh acknowledged there was a degree of discontent in the camp, but not to an unhealthy extent.
“I can understand his frustration, and also I think for [Mathias] Vacek it's the same. But we came here with a good goal and the goal was to win green with Mads, so they knew that and they know also that they have to help Mads because maybe it’s one of his last chances that he can seal the green jersey.
“They stick to the plan, so that's good, and they can ventilate the frustration, there's nothing wrong with that, but we stick to the line.”
Simmons has been active in the breakaways in this Tour de France, and he linked up with both Pedersen and Vacek on a stage 4 that the trio dominated tactically, with Pedersen taking out the victory. Simmons was regularly up the road in the second week, and was voted best teammate of the second week, with Pedersen also making early moves to secure green jersey points at the intermediate sprints.
That theme continued on stage 17 on Wednesday, with Simmons part of a large breakaway that was smashed to pieces by Pedersen, who duly claimed maximum points at the intermediate sprint. However, the Dane would describe it as a "s* day", as his big green jersey rival Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) wasn't far behind at the intermediate sprint and then won the stage, while Pedersen could only manage eighth, which cut his points lead from 31 to just seven.
Simmons, all the while, had to largely take a back seat in the secondary breakaway group, which eventually rejoined Pedersen's group for the sprint finish.
“I think the frustration is… I would say that it's in the right place, you know. They are sportsmen, they want to win, but Quinn and Vacek, they have still a long career ahead,” said De Jongh, who also suggested this might not be a problem in the future in light of the team’s evolving ambitions.
“I think when we are taking more of a direction of the GC in the future, they will have their chances in the stages.
“We want to win the Tour de France, so then we invest more on the GC side, and then there's less space of course for the green jersey goals, so that helps from the perspective of the guys on the attack as well.”
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