“I have never climbed better than now" - Dylan van Baarle excels as mountain domestique

Dylan van Baarle has quietly been one of the most impressive riders at the 2023 Tour de France. Predominantly seen as more of a Classics specialist, the Dutchman has been consistently impressing alongside Jonas Vingegaard in the mountains.

“I'm comfortable on the bike and everything comes pretty easy in terms of wattages. I haven't often felt that before," says van Baarle, admitting surprise at his own performances in conversation with Algemeen Dagblad. "That I have a good feeling from the start until well into the third week. I felt that coming a bit halfway through the Critérium du Dauphiné, at altitude training and then with the Dutch championship. I haven't often had that much confidence for a Tour start."

Jumbo-Visma have given a brilliant team performance throughout the Tour de France, helping Vingegaard to what will surely be his second straight Maillot Jaune. "I'm three kilos lighter than last year. I have never climbed better than now. I can go uphill for longer, the training sessions around the Tour were also more focused on that," van Baarle explains. 

"When I sent out in front of the Joux Plane on the Col de la Ramaz in stage 14 and saw only fifteen men left, I thought: 'Wow, that's not very bad'," he continues. "Then I surprised myself. I already knew that I can climb really well on my good days, but I have never climbed so well for three weeks."