All nine remaining Dutch Tour de France riders arrived on top of the Alpe d’Huez in the twelfth stage on Thursday within the time limit. These are their stories of a day of enjoyment and suffering on the ‘Dutch mountain’.
Fabio Jakobsen (158th): ‘I mainly squinted today’
Once Jakobsen has finished 158th and penultimate – just over four minutes before the time limit expired – he leans his bike against a fence and sits himself on the ground. After a few minutes of recovery, at 1,831 meters he has enough breath to answer the incoming press.
“This was my toughest day on the bike,” says Jakobsen. “On the Alpe d’Huez I kept the wheel of my teammate Michael Mørkøv, I have not seen much more. I have heard a lot of people, so I want to thank everyone for the support.”
“The Alpe d’Huez is a beautiful climb. It’s not really my thing, but I can do it, because luckily I made it in time. Nobody said the Tour is easy, but I think everyone knows that “I’m a fighter. I choose this myself, I like this. Even though I mostly squinted today. They say it was the most difficult day of the Tour and I hope that’s true.”
Fabio Jakobsen speaks to the press on the Alpe d’Huez.
Fabio Jakobsen speaks to the press on the Alpe d’Huez. Photo: Getty Images
Dylan Groenewegen (141st): ‘Roaded through a tunnel of Dutch encouragement’
“We had quite a margin to meet the time limit, so we could take it relatively easy on the Alpe d’Huez. It was hard work, but it was a really nice party on the climb with all those Dutch people. I drove through a kind of tunnel of Dutch encouragement, I heard my name very often. And I also got a lot of pushes, only at a certain point they were more blows, haha.”
Taco van der Hoorn (121st): ‘Because of the pushes I was too fast through the Dutch corner’
“This was one of my better experiences in cycling. It was crazy, especially in the Dutch corner. I drank a nice beer there, but I felt that right away. After that it was still quite far.”
“I had no trouble meeting the time limit, so I took it easy and drove part of it on my own so I could have a good look around. I did have a good time, apparently a lot of people know me by now. It was just a shame I was pushed so hard in the Dutch corner, because I was through it way too fast.”
Danny van Poppel (92nd): ‘Of course you never get used to this’
“I have already seen a lot of public at the Tour starts in England and Denmark, but of course you never get used to it. It was super cool to ride Alpe d’Huez and to notice that the Dutch recognize me. But I am also happy that it’s over.”
Nils Eekhoff (69th): ‘It was busier than I expected’
“It was busier than I expected. I drove on at the beginning of the Alpe d’Huez, so that at the end I could take it easy and enjoy it a bit more. And that worked. , everything that came at me; I’ve never experienced this before. It was a very special experience.”
Nils Eekhoff drives through the Dutch corner.
Nils Eekhoff drives through the Dutch corner. Photo: Getty Images
Dylan van Baarle (53rd): ‘I saw my mother in turn seven’
“Fortunately, I was able to enjoy the Alpe d’Huez. It is an iconic climb, one big arena. Not only full of Dutch people, but also with Danes, Colombians, Italians. The fans come from everywhere.”
“For me it was counting down to turn seven. I knew my mother would be there and I saw her. That Dutch corner really gave me goosebumps. Everyone is pretty excited there, I’ll just say, that’s cool to experience “There are also a lot of people with beer on it, but I just let that stand. After my teammate Tom Pidcock’s stage win, we drink champagne tonight.”
Martijn Tusveld (42nd): ‘Everyone saw that I was a Dutchman and went crazy’
“The Alpe d’Huez was a very nice experience, especially because I was still with my leader Romain Bardet at the start of the climb and I was able to help him. After that I was really looking forward to turn seven and that was very special indeed Everyone saw that I was a Dutchman and went completely crazy. I really enjoyed that.”
Bauke Mollema (30th): ‘Alpe d’Huez remains special’
“It remains special to drive up the Alpe d’Huez. I chose my own pace from the foot and that went well. I expected it to be even busier than other years because of the French holiday, but I think that was not the case. Of course there were a lot of people in a number of corners and all the way in turn 7. I thought it was a shame that they had closed that corner with ropes, because I always like to drive right past the supporters. gives a kick to go a little faster.”
Steven Kruijswijk (15th): ‘It was hectic, as always’
“It was hectic, as always on the Alpe d’Huez. During the stage we decided that I would do the front work after Wout van Aert and I was able to ride a good pace. At the beginning of the stage I didn’t feel that way good, but luckily I was better than expected on the Alpe d’Huez.”
All the latest news and backgrounds can be found in our Tour de France file