More combative designated from the first week of Tour de France, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) will not have taken long before already illustrating in the second. As soon as the recovery and this 11th stage runs once again on an infernal pace (more than 48 km/h on average) around Toulouse, the Dutchman has returned to attack mode, leaving the peloton about 60 terminals from the finish with 4 other runners to try to return to a first breakaway of 5 Costauds who had made the trunk long before. Separated for a long time by less than 30 seconds, the showdown between the two groups was intense, but despite a large attack by MVDP In the coast of Pech David to isolate himself, the latter finally failed seven seconds from the winner Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) et de Mauro Schmid (Jayco Alula), first attackers of the day and last survivors of the leading group.
“I just think that the guys in front were very very strong, they deserved to win”
A third podium on this Tour which did not leave too much regret to Mathieu van der Poelwhich gave everything but simply came across two too strong runners at the front. “”It's a shame there are two runners in front of me. I put a good attack in the last bump, but it was not enough to win. It is finally a tour of France that suits me well, and I feel good too. There is no longer much opportunity, today was one of the last, that's why I gave everything. What I missed? I just think that the guys in front were very very strong. We really drove well in the group of counter, everyone did their job, but that was not enough. Those in front have deserved to win today“He explained, lucid and Bonn Player.
“In the end, I am happy with my stage“He continued before detailing his day.”I did not feel very well at the start of the race, so I told my team that they too could try to take the escape, because I didn't want them to control. But then, I saw that it was going to run thoroughly until the front group plays victory. This is why I attacked and joined the counter, because I felt better afterwards. In the final, I was not sure if I was in the lead or not. We have some radio communication problems, there are so many on the turn that sometimes it does not work. So I thought a moment when I attacked that it was for the win, but I quickly saw that there were runners in front of me. So I gave everything to the line. I knew they were going to cooperate to the end to leave me behind. In the end, it's a shame to finish so close once again, because there are many opportunities left. But it's the race“, He concluded.
