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Watch: Degenkolb confronts Matthews following close Stage 16 sprint

Stage winner is adamant he raced fairly while Degenkolb insist he was denied a chance at victory

Tour de France 2017 - stage 16
July 18, 2017
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Tour de France 2017 - stage 16
Photo: Team Sunweb

Stage 16 of the Tour de France was decided in a close sprint into Romans-sur-Isère. In a high stress finale where cross winds saw the lead group reduced to only 28 riders, Michael Matthews of Team Sunweb emerged victorious after a photo finish. He won ahead of Edvald Boassan-Hagen (Dimension Data) and John Degenkolb (Trek-Segrafedo). It was Matthews second stage win but it was not all celebratory at the finish as tempers flared as the Tour entered it’s third week.

After crossing the line, Degenkolb was noticeably unhappy with Matthews who slightly deviated from his line during his sprint but not enough to receive any retribution from the race jury. Upon crossing the line, Degenkolb confronted Matthews.

“Matthews did not hold his line in the sprint and that cost me the chance for victory today,” Degenkolb said ruing the missed opportunity to take a stage win. “I was on his wheel, in the perfect position to launch the sprint at 200 meters and I started the sprint. I clearly came with more speed from his wheel and he saw me on the right side and closed the gap on the right side. It made me stop the sprint—stop sprinting for the victory.”

Degenkolb felt he was denied an opportunity at victory because of the way Matthews sprinted. “I felt like I had the legs to win today. It was very clear he went off his line into my line. In the heat of the situation, you are immediately angry if the chance for a win has been taken away when you know you have the legs to overtake him. It’s very disappointing.”

For his part, Matthews thought Degenkolb’s reaction was inappropriate. “I saw the sprint on TV afterwards. I sprinted in the same direction, I did not change my line. I left a space between me and the barrier,” Matthews said. “He grabbed me by the neck. The officials saw that, I don’t know what they’re going to do about it. I don’t think it’s very sportsmanlike.”