"I spent whole day trying to save energy" - Maxim Van Gils second on Grand Colombier

Maxim Van Gils finished the stage with finish on Grand Colombier in second place. The Belgian only had to let Michal Kwiatkowski go ahead and narrowly escaped Tadej Pogacar in the last meters.

"It went really fast all day. I spent whole day trying to save energy behind Jasper's back," says Van Gils. "At the start of the climb it was a bit of a push. Luckily I was able to ride at my own pace. Kwiatkowski was really stronger today."

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"In the last kilometer I heard that the GC guys were getting closer, so I pushed a bit more. I still delivered so much power that I knew it would be difficult for the GC riders to come back."

Eleven stages after his crash in the Basque Country, Van Gils' form seems to be completely back. How does he look at it himself? "It was a bit of a search after that fall, but I think I rode an okay Tour yesterday and today. I am looking forward to the Alps this weekend, but it remains to be seen how the legs will be."

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