It wasn’t easy, but all of the Team Argos-Shimano riders made it to the finish during Thursday’s queen stage of the Tour de France. All of the riders completed the stage in the ‘autobus’, or the so called ‘grupetto’. They arrived 33 minutes after winner Pierre Rolland at the top of Le Toussuire.
Anyone who thought riding in the bus is like a ride in the park couldn’t be more wrong. Tom Veelers can tell you that. “Today was one of the toughest days I’ve ever experienced on the bike. We climbed 4700 meters in altitude over a distance of only 148 kilometers and we also had a tight time limit. Days like this are anything but easy, not even when you’re in the bus.”
Right from the start the race exploded and that’s what makes it so hard, Veelers says. “In some stages the grupetto is formed during the final climb and then you can lose forty minutes during one climb. That’s a lot easier. But now we had to race all day taking on four massive Alpine cols.”
In the bus the riders can’t take it easy. Not even for one second. Uphill, but also downhill they have to give it all, because the descent is the best moment to make up time. “And because I normally don’t arrive at the top as one of the first riders, I always have a lot of people around me during the descent. That’s what makes it difficult. Before the corners I’ve to brake pretty hard and then after the corners I’ve to pedal hard again to get back on speed.”
Veelers needs a little bit of rest after his efforts in the Alps. “My body feels tired. Tomorrow I don’t expect to be at the front. It will be a tough stage and I really need some time to recover. I’m looking forward to the stage after tomorrow, the one to Le Cap d’Agde. I would like to sprint for a good result there. Although I don’t want to keep my teammates from attacking. But we’ll look at that during the tactical briefing. We’ll see how it goes. First I’ll have to survive tomorrow’s stage!”
