Stef Clement has lashed out at dsm firmenich-PostNL in his
Tour de France commentary for NOS. According to the former cyclist, the Dutch team should have let the young
Frank van den Broek win the stage in Rimini instead of veteran
Romain Bardet.
Clement shook his head at the finish when Bardet and Van den Broek crossed the finish line together, with the Frenchman in front. "This really should have been for Frank van den Broek," he said irritated. "I don’t care if no one at dsm-firmenich PostNL wants to talk to me anymore, but this victory really should have been given to the 23-year-old Van den Broek. He deserved it, he rode for it himself and he was the stronger one. Also in the final."
Clement points out that the 33-year-old Bardet already his large palmares as a pro, while for Van den Broek this could have been 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. "This is a fourth stage victory for Bardet. That won't change his career anymore. Yes, the yellow, but you couldn't distribute it fairly. Then you should have sent it to Frank van den Broek," Clement believes.
Then Clement turns to tell his young compatriot: "You don't know if you will ever get this chance again, while Bardet has had and taken his chances. He will retire richly. And you could have given your career a mega boost today. Everyone saw that you were the strongest. As far as I am concerned, it is a real injustice, not as it should be."