Elmar Reinders (31) from Assen was not sure what to expect from his first Tour de France, but the Drent feels completely at home. “I have never seen so many people at a race.”
It’s a rest day in the Tour. Riders pose on social media in bed or relaxed in a chair. No course for a while, is the message.
It was not necessarily necessary for Elmar Reinders, a day without a Tour stage. “I was actually quite comfortable with it. We did sit on the bike for a while to keep a bit of rhythm. On such a rest day, everyone has their own room for once to recover from all the efforts and impressions of the first Tour week”, says Reinders. “And then we pick up the thread again on Tuesday.”
,,I assume that I will digest the rest day well, but on the other hand I can’t say much about it, after all, this is my first big round. Everything is new of course. I try to enjoy everything as well. I’m here to work, but also look around me with the thought: who knows, you might only experience something like this once in your life.”
Impressed
The Jayco-Alula rider is still impressed by this cycling circus after the first nine rides. “I have never seen so many people at a race. Before the race, during the race and at the finish, from start to finish you come to places where people are black.”
,,Sometimes they wear the craziest costumes”, Reinders continues. ,,Occasionally you have to watch out with this Tour audience, our classification man Simon Yates has already fallen because people along the side weren’t careful, you have to be extra alert here. Furthermore, the organization of this competition is very tight. For once I haven’t seen any cars that don’t belong on the road. And should a roundabout be removed for the Tour? That just happens. Even at the hotel there are always a lot of people who come by to take a look.”
These are not only Dutch, but also Belgians, English and French. “Normally it is never this busy outside the race. I also had a lot of media inquiries, which is also not very common for me. There are many journalists in the Tour and they think that is a story: a 31-year-old rider who cycled at continental level last year and is now participating in the Tour de France.”
Came to work for teammates
Reinders does not even dream of his own success, he is in the round to work, mainly for sprinter Dylan Groenewegen on whose intercession he came to his current team. ,,I also happened to help our classification man Simon Yates on Sunday for the final climb, the Puy de Dome. But usually I stick with Dylan Groenewegen, it’s not for nothing that we’re at exactly the same time. In the flat stages I help to position him well for the sprint, but in the mountains I also stay with him to make sure we don’t get into trouble with the time limit with a tight pace.”
Both riders also share a room. ,,I am indeed close to him a lot.” Reinders does not get bored of that yet. He is also confident that Groenewegen will achieve a stage victory after eighth, fifth and fourth place. “No one really doubts that. Maybe Wednesday already, because that is a flat stage where the sprinters absolutely want to strike. But even if it happens on the Champs-Élysées, we will be proud, because if you win a stage, then your Tour has been a great success. As a result of the first week, we did look at details to see what could be improved in the sprints, but in principle our train is well on track. It is not for nothing that Dylan has already won seven times this season.
Family visiting
The Drenthe professional was still outstanding in Olympia’s Tour last spring, now the Tour de France is a race where he also feels perfectly at home. His girlfriend Tessa has already visited once and will come by again later. And his father wants to come and have a look this week. “Can they also see up close what is happening here, nice to have them there.”
And then Reinders has to go on, more journalists are waiting for him.