Thymen Arensman enters his 'third week mode' and closes the gap to fifth overall: "I think Geraint and I showed that we are also in good shape"
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar was unbeatable in the queen stage riding away from his opponents in a lighting speed. However behind the phenomenal Slovenian, an exciting battle unfolded between the other classification riders fighting over the second spot overall. After struggles in the first week, Thymen Arensman was finally in the mix, pushing the pace up for INEOS Grenadiers leader Geraint Thomas.
"It was indeed a very tough stage, but of course we knew that in advance," Arensman explained in front of the Cycling Pro Net camera. "The end of the final climb was especially difficult, especially because the last hundreds of meters were over gravel strips. That was also interesting in some ways. It was a beautiful day for us as INEOS Grenadiers. We knew Tadej was going to be super strong, but I think Geraint and I showed that we are also in good shape. That's nice to see."
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Additionally, Arensman significantly reduced his gap to fifth overall Antonio Tiberi, who happens to be the only man standing between Arensman and White jersey for the best U25 rider. Despite the fact that the white jersey is now almost up for grabs, the Dutchman indicates that he was not yet riding around with that ranking in mind.
"Not at all. I just thought about riding up as quickly as possible, I think Geraint did too. Some were looking at each other a bit, so I decided to speed up the pace myself. I know Geraint likes that, and so do I."
Will Arensman be racing with white in mind from now on? No, as it turns out. "I just want to get from A to B as quickly as possible and that's it. The white isn't in my head at all." However it would be a nice reward for his comeback in the third week regardless, wouldn't it?
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- And your point is what exactly?vappaxbipmv22-12-2024
- MVDP dominates this sport even more than Pogaçar dominates road racing. Also he can beat Tadej on the road quite regularly, the opposite is unlikely.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- If you listen to team radios you'll hear each DS telling their riders to ride faster, fight their way to the front, and all occupy the same 8 places.Sweep22-12-2024
- You're talking about a sport where equipment and clothing is measured in grams.Sweep22-12-2024
- “During a TT, I am basically blind”. That was his quote after crashing into the barriers in a TT. The problem isn’t the UCI, radios or air bags. The problem is the riders and their teams.JoeyB22-12-2024
- I think you overestimate scientific knowledge and for sure the spreading of it. There are huge numbers of people in similar situations, if there were an easy solution somebody would be making big money out of it. Nerve pain can have many complex origins or be due to complex combinations of reasons. Even if you discover a reason there is not always a solution. Migraines haven’t been solved either. I have had lower back/hip nerve pains on and off for over 30 years, no kind of doctor has ever found a way to reduce, prevent or solve the problem. It may just be that some people are born with nerves that are too short or get twisted out of position during certain movements.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- Amazing ride by her and very promising for her future. On a side note, it’s a bit worrying all these wins riders have after emotional moments in their lives, someone will come up with emotional doping at some point. Maybe give them fake news just before a big race to get hormones pumping.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- I doubt he will have the energy to do that if he continues to do leadout for Phillipsenabstractengineer22-12-2024
- I know several people who’ve tried contacting sport airbag manufacturers and none of them ever got a reply. Might be hard to organise anything with such attitudes.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- It's the BBC. Who cares outside of little Britain.leodis22-12-2024