DSM order Arensman out of winning Vuelta a Espana breakaway, Dutchman looses important time in GC

Thymen Arensman is leading Team DSM at the Vuelta a Espana this summer, however team tactics may have hampered the Dutchman severely on the ninth stage as he was ordered to leave the winning breakaway after making the effort to get in.

Being asked by reporters at the finish, the DSM rider replied no less than four times: “We decided that together, as a team". At the end of the day looking back, it is a decision that has left many in a state of confusion, with the team's social media also including several calls of disappointment after a decision that seems to have played against Arensman and the team's ambitions. "Why? Because we think that was better," he justified however, not wanting to attribute the decision to any party. 

The move happened with 130 kilometers to go, as an 11-rider group went up the road and there was finally no resistance from the peloton. The day was one where the breakaway was likely to succeed, and Arensman would be a favourite taking into consideration the lack of pure climbers. He worked together with the group for five kilometers as the gap grew quickly, and then suddenly he slowed down and let the breakaway go. He was ordered by yhe team to wait for the peloton.

The situation didn't improve later on, as he explained: “It is very disappointing that just before the final climb I was behind a fall with riders from INEOS Grenadiers [Tao Geoghegan Hart]. I wasted a lot of energy there trying to come back. In doing so, I went over my limit".

Seeing the breakaway succeed, and then himself not even being able to start the final brutal climb to Les Praeres in the peloton, Arensman cracked. “That's why I crack mentally, also because of the heat. It was also so steep. It was more that I cracked mentally than I was physically cracked," he said. 

The Dutchman lost over two and a half minutes to Remco Evenepoel, and remained in 11th position. “Now we first have the rest day, then the individual time trial. And then we'll see," he concluded.