Jordi Meeus: "I’m really happy to take home 2nd today"

Jordi Meeus has until today struggled at the Critérium du Dauphiné due to the hilly terrain that has seen him dropped, however today everything clicked for the Belgian rider who went on to be the first rider to put Wout van Aert under pressure in the sprints this week.

“Before the finale, it was all about surviving the short and steep climbs for me. I really have to thank my teammates for the amazing job they did today and particularly Nils Politt for the perfect lead-out in the finale," he said after the stage. Unlike Dylan Groenewegen who struggled once again, the BORA - hansgrohe rider survived the hard pace that INEOS and Jumbo set over the finale to reel in the breakaway.

With the catch made just in time for the finale, Meeus almost went over the left side of Wout van Aert in the final sprint. It was a very close second place, and the 23-year old's best result of the season.

"Even though I haven’t ridden a sprint for quite a long time, the goal for today was definitely to go for the stage win. It was super close in the end but I’m really happy to take home 2nd today," he concluded.