Thymen Arensman has abandoned the ambition to ride a good classification in his first Giro d’Italia. The DSM rider, who was the leader of the team after Romain Bardet retired, lost more than ten minutes on Saturday in the difficult fourteenth stage.
“This was perhaps one of my hardest days ever and also one of the warmest,” Arensman told Eurosport† “I made a mistake by taking a piss at the wrong time. When BORA-hansgrohe suddenly went full on the climb, I had to come back.”
His attempt to return to the favorites was anything but smooth. “I then got behind Movistar where Valverde broke his wheel. And then I exploded because of the heat, I’m also completely overheated now.”
The 22-year-old Arensman dropped from eleventh to fifteenth place in the ranking. Already during the stage he decided to turn the switch and from now on opt for attacking instead of joining in for a good classification.
“At least I tried to go for the classification. In the future I hope to come back here again and then finish really high. The rest of this Giro I might now have a little more space.”
Wilco Kelderman was unable to compete with the best in the stage won by Simon Yates.
Wilco Kelderman was unable to compete with the best in the stage won by Simon Yates. Photo: Getty Images
Kelderman: ‘Ritzege might be in it’
Wilco Kelderman is now the best Dutchman in the position, although he did lose a place from twelve to thirteen. His gap on the new rose jersey wearer Richard Carapaz is 10.34 minutes.
“Right now I’m not good enough to compete for the standings, but it’s nice if I can do something for the guys,” Kelderman said of his teammates Jai Hindley and Emanuel Buchmann, who are in second and seventh place respectively. stand.
Kelderman, who was part of this Giro a few times in the breakaway, also expects to be able to drive for his own chances. “I’m fine with my legs. A stage win might be in it.”