'I came in with too much speed and slipped away': Marc Hirschi rues return of bad luck at Tour de France
The Swiss youngster was riding himself into contention for the polka dot jersey until he crashed while descending on stage 18
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

It was the return of hard luck for Marc Hirschi at the Tour de France, the Swiss youngster left to rue taking too much speed into a corner and crashing, just as he was making a run at the polka-dot jersey.
"I came in with too much speed and then I slipped away," Hirschi said of his crash, which saw him detached from the group containing stage winner Michał Kwiatkowski and his Ineos team-mate, the new polka-dot jersey-wearer, Richard Carapaz. "It was sh** because I'd taken some points already for the king of the mountains jersey, I don't know if I could have taken it at the end of the day...my legs were good but then I crashed.
The 22-year-old says he was using new tyres, which he wasn't used to and may have played a part in his fall, before adding he doesn't know if he'd have beaten Kwiatkowski to the stage win anyway as the Polish rider was so strong.
"I don't know [if I could have won], Kwiatkowski was super strong in the break, he did so much work, the legs were good but for sure Kwiato deserved to win."
Kwiatowski seemed to agree he had been doing the lion's share of the pulling, and with the former world champion possessing strong work ethic, he didn't appear to hold much sympathy for the younger rider.
>>> Tour de France 2020: New Strava KoMs set on Col de La Madeleine and Col de la Loze
"He was fighting against Richard for the polka-dots so when he took that risk...he took that corner way too fast," Kwiatkowski explained. "I was behind him and had braked, at that moment it’s better to go at 99 per cent and stay safe rather than risk so much on the descent and ride away.
"He wasn’t keen to work before, we just wanted to race and not look behind."
Hirschi's sports director Matt Winston was full of praise for his young rider, who won his maiden Tour stage victory last week and has showcased his talents throughout his debut Grand Tour.
"He chased all day to come back to the leaders but it just wasn't possible in the end," Winston said. "But I think it showed a real committed effort and he was caught by the peloton with around 10km to go, finishing with the yellow jersey group. He showed his true grit throughout the stage."
"For sure but also I was a bit scared during the [subsequent] descent. I tried but then I saw the gap was growing and then I exploded," Hirschi added.
"I'm hurting for now but I'm sure I'll be okay for tomorrow. I will go on."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Wout van Aert v. Mathieu van der Poel - a truly rare and iconic sporting rivalry
As the duo continue to trade blows on the biggest of stages, their rivalry will go down in history as one of cycle racings greatest
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'A movie that should have been made long ago': New film celebrates cycling’s first Black World Champion
A new film titled Whirlwind aims to return Major Taylor to the spotlight by celebrating his trailblazing life and lasting influence.
By Tim Peck • Published
-
Meet Sean Flynn, the Edinburgh-born mountain biker moving to the WorldTour with DSM
The 22-year-old has stepped up to elite level after two years with development teams, and is looking to push on
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Flying Dutchwoman: Lorena Wiebes on pressure, winning at the Tour de France, and leaving DSM
The SD Worx rider won 22 races in 2022, including two stages at the Tour de France Femmes and a clean sweep at the RideLondon Classique. She told Adam Becket how she did it
By Adam Becket • Published
-
‘You never know in the Tour’ - Romain Bardet fearless as he lines up Tour de France GC bid
The 32-year-old is ready to play the tactical game this July
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Humble, grounded but not satisfied: Scottish rider Sean Flynn's WorldTour ascension
DSM have signed a rider who they believe can develop into a potential winner of hilly Classics
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Ex-mountain biker Sean Flynn completes 'dream' move to DSM
The Scotsman has signed a two-year contract with the WorldTour outfit
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Introducing Oscar Onley, the 19-year-old who almost beat Jonas Vingegaard twice
The DSM rider from Scotland finished third overall at CRO Race, and second on two stages
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
It's official: SD Worx confirms signing of star sprinter Lorena Wiebes
With Wiebes, Kopecky and Vollering in their midst, the Dutch team is shaping up to be an absolute power house in 2023
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Disappointed Wiebes reacts after losing Tour de France Femmes yellow
The Dutch sprinter thanks DSM for developing her as the team confirm she will leave at the end of the season
By Owen Rogers • Published