Tour de France stages wherein attackers can go for the win are rare. And as a result almost half of all the riders wants to be in the breakaway during these kind of rides. Monday’s fifteenth stage from Samantan to Foix was such a moment. The riders of Team Argos-Shimano did everything they could, but it wasn’t enough.
On Monday afternoon a true war took place on the roads between Samatan and Pau. Because half of the peloton wanted to be in the breakaway, the riders were really pushing it for sixty kilometers. At the time a group drove away, the riders of Team Argos-Shimano were exhausted.
“I did everything I could”, Koen de Kort said after the stage. “I attacked several times, but was grabbed back every time. Everyone tried to get away. When everyone was tired, a group succeeded. I was disappointed. I even threw with a bottle. I had this stage in my mind for a long time.”
In the sprint of the peloton for the seventh place, De Kort proved that with his current form he could have done well in the leading group. With his good legs he sprinted to a thirteenth place. Roy Curvers came in sixteenth.
Shine
According to De Kort the fifteenth stage was one of his last chances for success this Tour. “In the Tour de France you don’t get many opportunities, but the last two stages suited me. Now the stage before the time trial is my last real chance. I’m happy with my role so far, I think I’ve assisted Tom Veelers pretty well during his sprints, but I also want to show myself.”
Now the second rest day and some heavy Pyrenees stages are coming up. De Kort is looking forward to a day of rest. “We have made some long days. Not just on the bike. A couple of days in a row our hotel was pretty far away from the finish. So by the time we had eaten and went to bed it was very late. I would like to sleep early now for once. That’s also better when you look at those heavy mountain stages coming up. I think it will be difficult for me to finish high up in those stages.” So survival will be De Kort’s motto. So he’s ready for his last chance on Friday.
