‘Just wait’: Why Luke Rowe refused to send teammates back for Paul Seixas at the Tour de France

‘Just wait’: Why Luke Rowe refused to send teammates back for Paul Seixas at the Tour de France

Decathlon-CMA CGM sports director Luke Rowe reveals why he chose not to drop teammates back to Paul Seixas after a double bike change on stage 2, and what the disruption likely cost the 19-year-old on Montjuïc.

By Tim Bonville-Ginn · · 4 min read

Luke Rowe confirmed after stage 2 of the Tour de France that Decathlon-CMA CGM deliberately left Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) without teammates during his chase back to the peloton following a puncture and double bike change on the road to Barcelona. The former pro-turned-sports director said his fear was that dropping riders back would prompt commissaires to impose a barrage, a hold on vehicle movement in the convoy, making the 19-year-old's return harder rather than easier.

Even with the issues, Seixas managed to ride to a strong ninth on the stage losing just three seconds to Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates), Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), and moved up four places in the general classification to sixth overall, 42 seconds behind Vingegaard in yellow. But Rowe said the effort to get back "took the edge off him" before the Montjuïc finale.

As to why Rowe didn't send riders back to help Seixas return to the peloton, which confused commentators such as the TNT Sports team in the UK, the former Ineos rider explained: "My concern there, if you stop one or two guys with Paul, then they're going to create a barrage," he said. "I said, listen, just wait. The cars will come in 30 seconds. You'll have a convoy in 30 seconds. Just wait."

Results

Tarragone - Barcelone • Jul 5 • 168.5km

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
Isaac del Toro Romero
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG3:40:01
🥈
Tadej Pogačar
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+0:00
🥉
Remco Evenepoel
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:00
4
Jonas Vingegaard Hansen
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:00
5
Mattias Skjelmose Jennow Jensen
LIDL-TREK+0:03
6
Tobias Halland Johannessen
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:03
7
Romain Gregoire
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+0:03
8
Lenny Sydney Martinez
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+0:03
9
Paul Seixas
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+0:03
10
Thomas Pidcock
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+0:03
11
Lennert van Eetvelt
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+0:03
12
Juan Ayuso Pesquera
LIDL-TREK+0:03
13
Ilan van Wilder
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+0:03
14
Richard Antonio Carapaz Montenegro
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+0:07
15
Alex Baudin
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+0:10
16
Florian Lipowitz
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:10
17
Cian Uijtdebroeks
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:27
18
Adam Richard Yates
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+0:39
19
Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia
XDS ASTANA TEAM+0:43
20
Tobias Svendsen Foss
NETCOMPANY INEOS+0:43
21
Thymen Arensman
NETCOMPANY INEOS+0:47
22
Mathieu van der Poel
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+0:47
23
Egan Arley Bernal Gomez
NETCOMPANY INEOS+0:47
24
Alex Aranburu Deva
COFIDIS+0:49
25
Harold Alfonso Tejada Canacue
XDS ASTANA TEAM+0:51
26
Jose Felix Parra Cuerda
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+0:54
27
Yannis Voisard
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+1:10
28
Davide Piganzoli
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:10
29
Jordan Jegat
TOTALENERGIES+1:10
30
Ion Izaguirre Insausti
COFIDIS+1:11
31
Javier Romo Oliver
MOVISTAR TEAM+1:18
32
Abel Balderstone Roumens
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+1:18
33
Joris Delbove
TOTALENERGIES+1:36
34
Sean Quinn
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+1:39
35
Torstein Træen
UNO-X MOBILITY+1:55
36
Jai Hindley
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+1:55
37
Tiesj Benoot
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+1:55
38
Mathias Vacek
LIDL-TREK+5:02
39
Brandon Mcnulty
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+5:02
40
Ben Alexander O'Connor
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+5:31
41
Matthew Riccitello
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+5:31
42
Guillaume Martin Guyonnet
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+5:31
43
George Bennett
NSN CYCLING TEAM+5:31
44
Lucas Plapp
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+5:31
45
Derek Gee
LIDL-TREK+5:31
46
Antonio Tiberi
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+5:44
47
Quinten Hermans
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+5:57
48
Matteo Jorgenson
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+6:03
49
Mauro Schmid
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+6:21
50
Bruno Armirail
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+6:52
51
Kévin Vauquelin
NETCOMPANY INEOS+6:52
52
Sepp Kuss
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+6:52
53
Anders Halland Johannessen
UNO-X MOBILITY+6:52
54
Clément Braz Afonso
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+7:15
55
Anders Skaarseth
UNO-X MOBILITY+8:40
56
Pascal Eenkhoorn
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+9:28
57
Georg Steinhauser
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+9:28
58
Georg Zimmermann
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+9:28
59
Rick Pluimers
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:28
60
Robbe Dhondt
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+9:28
61
Sebastian Berwick
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+9:28
62
Nicolas Prodhomme
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+9:28
63
Louis Vervaeke
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+9:28
64
Marc Hirschi
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:28
65
Lars Craps
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+9:28
66
Emiel Verstrynge
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+9:28
67
Christopher Harper
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:28
68
Ramses Debruyne
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+9:40
69
Quentin Pacher
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+10:24
70
Joel Nicolau Beltran
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+11:01
71
Maxim van Gils
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+11:06
72
Xandro Meurisse
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+11:06
73
Damiano Caruso
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+11:06
74
Thibault Guernalec
TOTALENERGIES+11:06
75
Marco Frigo
NSN CYCLING TEAM+11:06
76
Robert Stannard
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+11:06
77
Nelson Oliveira
MOVISTAR TEAM+11:06
78
Lorenzo Germani
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+11:06
79
Ewen Costiou
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+11:06
80
Alexandre Delettre
TOTALENERGIES+11:06
81
Matteo Vercher
TOTALENERGIES+11:06
82
Nicolas Breuillard
TOTALENERGIES+11:06
83
Mattia Cattaneo
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+11:06
84
Benjamin Thomas
COFIDIS+11:06
85
Joshua Michael Tarling
NETCOMPANY INEOS+11:06
86
Michal Kwiatkowski
NETCOMPANY INEOS+11:06
87
Mike Teunissen
XDS ASTANA TEAM+11:06
88
Luke Durbridge
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+11:06
89
Dylan van Baarle
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+11:06
90
Raul Garcia Pierna
MOVISTAR TEAM+11:06
91
Julian Alaphilippe
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+11:06
92
Michael James Matthews
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+11:57
93
Valentin Paret Peintre
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+12:08
94
Clément Russo
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+12:08
95
Niklas Märkl
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+12:08
96
Aurélien Paret Peintre
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+12:08
97
Aaron Murray Gate
XDS ASTANA TEAM+12:08
98
Victor Campenaerts
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+12:08
99
Tim Wellens
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+12:08
100
Felix Grossschartner
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+12:08
101
Mathis le Berre
TOTALENERGIES+12:08
102
Carlos Verona Quintanilla
LIDL-TREK+12:08
103
Jonas Rickaert
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+12:08
104
Kasper Asgreen
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+12:08
105
Max Walker
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+12:16
106
Michael Valgren
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+12:16
107
Ben Healy
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+12:16
108
Michel Heßmann
MOVISTAR TEAM+12:16
109
Jenno Berckmoes
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+12:16
110
Lewis Askey
NSN CYCLING TEAM+12:30
111
Edward Planckaert
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+12:47
112
Felix Engelhardt
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+13:33
113
Nils Politt
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+13:33
114
Jonas Abrahamsen
UNO-X MOBILITY+13:33
115
Tom van Asbroeck
NSN CYCLING TEAM+13:33
116
Silvan Dillier
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+13:33
117
Nicolya Vinokurov
XDS ASTANA TEAM+13:33
118
Hugo Page
COFIDIS+13:33
119
Einer Augusto Rubio Reyes
MOVISTAR TEAM+13:33
120
Nico Denz
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+13:33
121
Dorian Godon
NETCOMPANY INEOS+13:33
122
Warren Barguil
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+13:33
123
John Degenkolb
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+13:33
124
Xabier Mikel Azparren Irurzun
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+13:33
125
Damien Craig Howson
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+13:33
126
Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda Hernandez
MOVISTAR TEAM+13:33
127
Pablo Castrillo Zapater
MOVISTAR TEAM+13:33
128
Tim Marsman
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+13:33
129
Anthon Charmig
UNO-X MOBILITY+13:33
130
Anthony Turgis
TOTALENERGIES+13:33
131
Matis Louvel
NSN CYCLING TEAM+13:33
132
Jasper Philipsen
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+13:33
133
Jasper Stuyven
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+13:33
134
Brent van Moer
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+13:33
135
Florian Vermeersch
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+13:33
136
Tim van Dijke
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+13:33
137
Frits Biesterbos
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+13:33
138
Michael Storer
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+13:33
139
Pavel Bittner
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+13:33
140
Stefano Oldani
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+13:33
141
Fernando Gaviria Rendon
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+13:33
142
Max Kanter
XDS ASTANA TEAM+13:33
143
Jenthe Biermans
COFIDIS+13:33
144
Jakub Otruba
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+13:33
145
Toms Skujins
LIDL-TREK+13:33
146
Krists Neilands
NSN CYCLING TEAM+13:33
147
Tim Merlier
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+13:33
148
Daan Hoole
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+13:33
149
Milan Fretin
COFIDIS+13:46
150
Magnus Nielsen
UNO-X MOBILITY+13:52
151
Matej Mohoric
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+13:56
152
Jan Tratnik
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+13:56
153
Quinn Simmons
LIDL-TREK+13:56
154
Alex Kirsch
COFIDIS+13:56
155
Thomas Jake Stewart
NSN CYCLING TEAM+13:56
156
Mads Pedersen
LIDL-TREK+13:56
157
Biniam Girmay
NSN CYCLING TEAM+13:56
158
Arvid de Kleijn
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+13:56
159
Phil Bauhaus
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+13:56
160
Julius van den Berg
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+13:56
161
Frank van den Broek
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+13:56
162
Pascal Ackermann
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+13:56
163
Kamil Gradek
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+13:56
164
Simone Velasco
XDS ASTANA TEAM+13:56
165
Alex Molenaar
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+13:56
166
Piet Allegaert
COFIDIS+13:56
167
Vlad van Mechelen
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+14:20
168
Alfred Brockwell Wright
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+14:20
169
Filippo Ganna
NETCOMPANY INEOS+14:43
170
Bert van Lerberghe
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+14:51
171
Per Strand Hagenes
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+15:02
172
Søren Wærenskjold
UNO-X MOBILITY+15:06
173
Matteo Trentin
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+15:29
174
Huub Artz
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+15:29
175
Davide Ballerini
XDS ASTANA TEAM+15:44
176
Marco Haller
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+16:08
177
Liam Slock
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+16:33
178
Edoardo Affini
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+16:47
179
Kelland O’Brien
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+17:49
180
Olav Kooij
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+18:08
181
Cees Bol
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+18:08
182
Baptiste Veistroffer
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+18:25
183
Arnaud de Lie
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+18:25

A barrage is a commissaire-enforced blockade that prevents team cars from advancing through the race convoy to reach a dropped rider. In Rowe's reading, teammates alongside Seixas would have made the group look like a separate entity on the road, triggering the hold and slowing the car-assisted return he was banking on.

"Sure enough, the convoy will come and you can use the convoy," he said. "And he just kind of made his way through."

What the disruption cost

Cycling peloton rides close together under colorful crowd at the roadside race finish stretch.

It all started going wrong for Decathlon-CMA CGM when Olav Kooij punctured, followed seconds later by Seixas himself. In the scramble, Seixas first took Aurélien Paret-Peintre's bike before switching again to his own spare just before the finishing circuit alongside Paret-Peintre. Tight roads, near misses and a close call between the TotalEnergies team car and a jury vehicle added stress to the return and also meant that Paret-Peintre was distanced from his leader.

Rowe said that it was hard to tell what the physical cost was from this. "At this level in this game, if you have to expose yourself to any degree prior to a big effort like it was, took the few percent off," he said.

He still managed to finish in the top 10 losing just 3 seconds to his biggest rivals, which raises the question: what could have been? Rowe remained controlled on that, adding: "I'm not going to come out with any junk saying if you didn't have that, you'd have done this or that or the other," he said.

It was a shame for a team that had seemed primed to race aggressively. They even put Tiesj Benoot onto the front of the peloton as they headed onto the final climb despite Seixas' issues. Rowe said they wanted to treat the day as a one-day race, likening the Montjuïc circuit to a small Amstel Gold Race and targeting the best possible stage result rather than simply protecting position.

"It seems strange to say on stage 2, but if you come into it conservative or cautious, then I think it's all going to go wrong," Rowe said. "Race it like a one-day race was the message."

Seixas sits sixth overall heading into stage 3 of the Tour de France.

Cover image credit: Thomas Maheux

Velora newsletter

Never miss a story

The biggest cycling stories, tech insight and race analysis — twice a week, free.

Tim Bonville-Ginn headshot

Tim Bonville-Ginn

Pro cycling contributor

Tim Bonville-Ginn is a freelance writer who has worked in cycling for well over a decade with his articles being featured across publications such as Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Cyclist, Rouleur, Eurosport, Road cc, Domestique, and more.

As well as writing, Tim has worked as a social media and press manager for professional teams Human Powered Health, Global 6, and Saint Piran across Europe as well as commentating on races such as the African Continental Championships, Tour de Feminin and multiple rounds of the British road and circuit series for Golazo and Monument Cycling.

Expertise:Racing