"It's about surviving in this tough Tour" - Dylan Groenewegen now hoping to thrive on sprint friendly stage 18

Not known for his climbing legs, the last few days in the Alps have been something of a struggle for Dylan Groenewegen. With stage 18 offering some respite from the mountains with an expected day for the sprinters, the Team Jayco-AlUla man is looking to make the most of his opportunity.

“I feel good and reasonably fresh,” he told AD in a pre-stage interview. “As a sprinter, you never want to have a bad day in a mountain stage, but I survived them relatively easily. I have to pedal hard, but I've never run out of time."

Various big sprinters have left the race for one reason or another already, but the Green Jersey and winner of four stages, Jasper Philipsen remains and will more than likely be Groenewegen's biggest challenge in a sprint finish.

"People laughed a little bit because I rode the Critérium du Dauphiné, but it's about surviving in this tough Tour. Many sprinters have already gone home," says the Dutchman. "If you don't have the legs to survive the mountains, you can't sprint in Paris either. And that is what I trained for. There are now two or three more chances coming up, that is something nice to look forward to. Jasper Philipsen is of course in very good shape, but my shape is also good. I don't really get tired, so that's a good sign. I am ready for the final sprints.”