the photos become viral- Corriere.it

Let’s imagine attending an F1 Grand Prix and returning home happy after enjoying a great show. But on the way back – it happens, unfortunately – we puncture a tire and struggle to replace it. Let’s imagine, or rather we dream, that someone stops to help us and that that someone is Charles Leclerc who has just finished his race: Charles helps us change the wheel and then he also gives us his overalls. Unlikely? Yes. But not in cycling, the sport where absolutely top-level athletes are more in contact with runners, where the impossible or the improbable can happen.

On Wednesday at least 50,000 enthusiasts climbed the Col du Granon to attend the last kilometers of the 11th stage of the Tour, a legendary fraction in which the Dane Vingegard snatched the jersey from the Martian Pogacar. At the end of the race everyone – athletes and fans – returned to the base by bike on a narrow and full of curves descent, forbidden to cars. Halfway through, in a small group of Italians that also included Michele Pelacci, who has spread the story complete with photos, a fan-cyclist got a puncture and stopped patiently to replace the tubular by the side of the road. A moment later, another cyclist got stuck next to him with the same problem: green jersey leading the points classification, imposing physique, impossible not to recognize Wout Van Aert, hero of modern cycling for victories and agonistic generosity. At that point, the solidarity between pedal riders started: I hold the bike still, you take off the tire, I swell, you check the pressure. A group of fans formed around the champion who did not believe their eyes, not even when Wout told the boy that he had given him the pump of “Take off this green shirt and take it, you deserve it.” No sooner said than done. The green long-sleeved Tour jersey costs 150 euros, the one customized for the Jumbo and worn by Van Aert is priceless. The Belgian, who had cycled on the run for five hours pulling like crazy, also took a few selfies and returned to the base where the team bus was waiting for him.

Wonderful but not isolated episode. Geraint Thomas – winner of the 2018 Tour and one of the favorites of this one – in the initial time trial made a beginner’s mistake that made the rounds of social networks: he left for the test with the warm-up vest on him that got soaked with rain slowing it down. The day after, at the end of the stage, the Welshman spotted a fan on the side of the road and handed him the offending vest telling him: “This garment made the first stage with me, now I’d like it to pass from hand to hand, from fan to fan and from stage to stage to Paris. Would you like to help me? ». The vest – traced on social networks via the hashtag #wheresGsgilet – arrived on Thursday morning on Alpe d’Huez and continues its run towards the capital.