"That is what makes cycling so beautiful but cruel" - Mixed emotions for Thymen Arensman following dramatic finale to stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia

In a personal sense, the 2023 Giro d'Italia was a brilliant performance from Thymen Arensman. Another good showing on the stage 20 individual time-trial saw the Dutchman rise to 6th in the general classification. After seeing teammate Geraint Thomas dramatically lose the Maglia Rosa however, Arensman wasn't feeling like celebrating.

"Well, that’s not how we wanted the Giro d'Italia to end.. but it is what it is. That is what makes cycling so beautiful but cruel," the 23-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider recapped in a post to his official Instagram account. "Really proud of the whole team. The whole process leading towards the Giro and to these results is something I will never forget."

This Giro d'Italia had been one of ups and downs for the INEOS Grenadiers team. Losing Filippo Ganna, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Pavel Sivakov, a lost rested on the shoulders of Arensman and Laurens de Plus as the race reached the decisive final week.

"We never gave up and always kept believing. Super proud of everyone involved," he continues. "For myself a 6th place in GC while working for the team, small what if my chain didn’t drop on the wall stage or didn’t get stuck behind a crash in the early stages. But you can’t change it, you just learn from it."

Arensman had grown into the race and just looked better and better in the third week being a massive aide to Geraint Thomas in his Maglia Rosa quest. "I would 100% swap a top 10 for the victory for G. My mind was constantly with him during the TT, disappointed but life goes on!" Arensman says. "Happy with the progress for myself this year, year older and year stronger with some more experience."