The provisional final flat ride of the Tour was one that didn’t go without a struggle. At about twenty kilometers from the finish half the peloton was involved in a massive crash. Many fell, others were held up, including most of Team Argos-Shimano.
Roy Curvers was the only one who managed to stay in the first group. He finished twelfth. Tom Veelers, Albert Timmer, Matthieu Sprick, Johannes Fröhlinger and Koen de Kort all hit the ground. Fortunately the damage ‘only’ consisted abrasions. On Saturday all riders will be at the start.
Team manager Rudi Kemna felt a crash was coming. “The whole day it was very nervous. Everyone wanted to be in the front. Sprinters and GC riders. And they all wanted to have their teammates with them which was just not possible. GC riders don’t belong upfront. But they’re there because they’re afraid to lose time. And that is because the jury is very strict. They relentlessly ensure that riders don’t get back in the peloton behind cars. If the jury is more flexible the race would stay a lot calmer and crashes will not happen that often.”
Not disappointed
Beginning Saturday the peloton will start in the mountains. The first week had mixed results. Sprinter Marcel Kittel, who hoped to win a stage, had to give up, while replacement Tom Veelers did very well by finishing fourth, third and sixth.
During the flat stages Kemna was the team manager in the first car. The former sprinter is ‘not disappointed’. “Marcel became sick and that was a big loss, but the team handled it very well. It also opened new options. Tom did a very good job. It was good to see the team switch so easily to the new scenario. That’s promising also for after the Tour de France. I’m sure we will see our boys again in the mountains the next days.”
Right moment
During the mountain stages Christian Guiberteau will be the team manager in the first car. The Frenchman hopes his riders can get in some breakaways, but knows it won’t be easy. “Every team will want to have a rider in the breakaway. So we will have to choose the right moment.”
In the mountains Guiberteau has his hopes set on Yann Huguet and Johannes Fröhlinger. “But Matthieu Sprick is also capable. And with Albert Timmer we have someone who has already proven to be a good attacker. “In the Tour de France of 2009 Timmer attacked a couple of times and was close to a stage win.”
