"Now a little bit of rest and start the last preparation towards the Giro!" - Thymen Arensman upbeat after surge in form towards end of Tour of the Alps

Thymen Arensman has proven himself as a stage-racer last year as he took several strong results including a sixth place and stage win at the Vuelta a Espana. INEOS Grenadiers are trying to bring out the best from the Dutchman which is proving a difficult task, but good signs were being shown towards the end of the Tour of the Alps.

"Back to back GC wins for me in this race! Really happy and proud of Tao Geoghegan Hart for pulling this one of!" Arensman said in an Instagram post. "But everyone in this team was on a super high level. Personally I struggled the first days straight from altitude but had some really good feelings the last two days and happy with the work I could do for such a strong and nice team. Better everyday! Now a little bit of rest and start the last preparation towards the Giro!"

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The Dutchman has not been able to perform at his regular level throughout the opening months of the season and has come clean on how he suffered from the pressured imposed by himself. One of INEOS' many climbers, Arensman was listed to race the Giro d'Italia since the start of the season and would on paper be a GC contender. However after not performing for a few months and struggling heavily on the opening day of the Italian race as the team took control of the race worries emerged.

However Arensman has explained how he felt the effects of a recent altitude training camp early in the race, but over the five days gathered race rhythm and felt the effect less. Over the last two days of the race as the GC fight calmed down the Dutchman was a constant presence towards the front of the race, eventually finishing inside the Top15 on both days. With two weeks left to the Giro and a heavy final week, Arensman now seems on track the same way as Geraint Thomas who have shown modest form throughout the week.