In the second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, Antwan Tolhoek has demonstrated that he had little trouble with the crash he was involved in yesterday. The Dutchman attacked late in the stage. After a few kilometres he got caught by the peloton, which was preparing for a mass sprint.

Sports director Grischa Niermann concluded that it had been a difficult day. “We knew beforehand that it was going to be difficult. The arrival was less troublesome than yesterday’s, but the pace was very high. Fortunately, Antwan showed to be in good shape after his crash. That’s good to know in the run up to the really difficult stages, later this week. That’s what we’re aiming for.”

Before the team is going to prepare for those stages, the team time trial of tomorrow is on the programme. “In Lars Boom, Jos van Emden and Neilson Powless we have large engines. But we have to remain realistic, because we also have one rider fewer. With the mountain stages in mind, the aim is to limit Antwan’s loss of time as much as possible“, the sports director said.