“Those other riders are more explosive and can break away swiftly on the last climb. I attacked first because I understood I had to go at my own pace. The ride lasted two hundred metres too long”, Gesink concluded.

The Dutchman was not the only Team Jumbo-Visma rider who showed himself in the front. Mike Teunissen and Sam Oomen also participated in the break of the day. “We still felt the disappointment of Primoz dropping out yesterday. Today we had to try to make the most of it. Sam’s presence in the front group after his hard crash early in the stage was incredible.”

“I never imagined I would compete for the stage win in this grand tour ever again”, Gesink continued. “In recent years, I have focused on working for the leaders. Our dream was to bring a fourth red jersey to the finish in Madrid, but that dream fell apart yesterday.”

The rider was aware that his advantage in the closing kilometres was dwindling. “Grischa Niermann kept me informed and suddenly I noticed a wheel appear behind me. In the end, I am ecstatic with a strong day and good legs, but less so about the final two hundred metres.”