"Second is a fantastic result" - Van den Broek happy despite missing out on Tour de France stage win
Cycling
Stage 20 of the 2025 Tour de France delivered late drama and
tactical intrigue, as Kaden Groves powered to a solo victory after escaping
from a breakaway group. Dutch rider Frank van den Broek crossed the line in
second, a result he described as both realistic and rewarding given the
circumstances of the race.
"There was that crash on the descent. I hope everyone
is okay. I ended up with Groves and Stewart; they're very good sprinters. I
thought that would be a very difficult situation for me to win," van den
Broek told NOS. "I thought: I'm not going to take over anymore. And
Stewart leaves the gap, and I think Groves wins the stage there. But he was the
strongest in that group anyway. Finishing second is the best possible
result."
The Dutchman made it clear he was riding smart, not passive.
"I said, 'I'm not going to ride, I can hardly sprint against you with my
1000 watts,'" he laughed. "I said, 'Congratulations, you're giving
the stage away here.' He was a bit pissed off with me; he didn't understand why
I didn't want to ride. I had my reasons; I stuck to the strategy. I think that
was the best thing. I don't know what would have happened if I had followed
Groves. Then I think I'd have finished third."
Van den Broek also reflected on earlier moments in the race.
"I probably should have jumped with Sweeney," he said, recalling the
early move by the Australian rider with 60 kilometers to go. "He went
really early, against the wind. I expected more from guys like Wellens and
Jorgenson. But everyone was mainly watching them."
Despite not taking the stage, van den Broek was satisfied
with both the day's result and the team’s performance over the Tour. "We
broke away with a group of guys where I thought: this is going to be a very
difficult story. Second is a fantastic result. We've had such a great Tour,
we've often finished in the top 10 and were in contention for the win. So I can
only look back with satisfaction."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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