Dylan Groenewegen has throwback to junior racing in stage 19: "It felt a bit like back at juniors"

It was not a stage for sprinters at the Tour de France today, but Dylan Groenewegen gave it a go anyway. On the way to Poligny, the Dutchman was part of a large breakaway group of more than 30 riders that fought for the stage victory. In the end he crossed the line in fourteenth place, as the first rider of the third group.

"The last climb was tough," Groenewegen said to WielerFlits about the last climb. "I was just hanging on, but after that it was a bit of a gamble. I think those three or four guys stayed ahead. They rode away on the climb, so they were simply the strongest."

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In addition to Groenewegen, Jasper Philipsen was another top sprinter at the front. Did the Dutchman of Jayco AlUla keep an eye on his wheel? "No not really. But after that intermediate sprint I sensed that they would continue, so I immediately told Luka that we had to move along. Then Durbridge also moved along and thus we had three riders up front."

What was it like for the 30-year old sprinter to be part of a breakaway again? "It felt a bit like back at juniors," he laughed. "It was a very hard day, but a very beautiful day."

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Tour de France 2023 Medical Report | Update stage 21