"Lamenting their misfortune, sprinters bemoan the unfortunate crash during the finale of Tour de France stage 17"
Tour de France 2022: Milan Takes Stage 17, De Lie Holds High Hopes for Paris
The Tour de France 2022 has seen its fair share of excitement, and the seventeenth stage was no exception. Jonathan Milan, a notable sprinter, clinched a thrilling victory in a sprint finish, marking his second win in the race.
However, the race was marred by a crash in the final kilometers, which affected several riders, including last year's green jersey winner, Biniam Girmay. His current condition remains unknown. Kaden Groves, a rider for Alpecin-Deceuninck, expressed frustration about the crash, stating that the weather conditions, which turned from dry to torrential rain, contributed to the stress and chaos in the final stages.
Despite the setback, Arnaud De Lie, a member of the Lotto team, maintained a positive outlook. His performance in Stage 17 was closer to victory than in Châteauroux (Stage 9), and he believes his team and his legs have the form for big ambitions in Paris. However, De Lie admitted to making a mistake that led to him losing positions in Stage 17.
Tim Merlier, who currently has 2 wins in the Tour de France, tied with Milan, was disappointed as he felt he missed several opportunities to sprint. Merlier believes that Stage 17 was his last opportunity to compete in the sprint category of the Tour de France.
Meanwhile, Jasper Philipsen, a previous contender in the fastmen category, has already departed from the race.
In the overall standings, Jonas Vingegaard, who is not a sprint specialist but a general classification contender, won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023. The sprint competitions in the Tour de France are usually highlighted through the points classification (green jersey), but no specific points winner or green jersey holder from 2022 sprinters is identified in the current results.
Jonathan Milan, Jordi Meeus, and Davide Ballerini were among the top sprinters in the Tour de France 2022, although their specific results for that year are not detailed. Milan's victories and other sprinters’ results from subsequent years (2025) give insight into the top sprinters currently active.
Arnaud De Lie, who finished 4th in Stage 17, now looks forward to Paris, expressing faith in a sixth and final opportunity to win. Milan, on the other hand, leads in the points classification of the Tour de France.
As the race enters its final stages, all eyes will be on the sprinters as they strive for victory in Paris.
Arnaud De Lie, despite a setback in Stage 17, remains optimistic about his chances in Paris, aiming for a potential victory. The race in Paris will highlight the sprint competitions, with all eyes on the sprinters as they strive for victory.
