The final week of racing at the Tour de France got underway with what on paper was deemed the last likely sprint opportunity of the race. As a result, the peloton approached the day in a more conservative manner and although there was a potential threat of crosswinds, nothing ever materialised and the stage was destined to come down to a fast finish; despite Gachignard’s solo breakaway efforts.
Heading into the final 20 kilometres, which were littered with roundabouts, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL came to the front early to ensure they stayed out of danger and could use the climbing group to position Nils Eekhoff and John Degenkolb for the finale. Working well as a unit the team were to the fore as the kilometres ticked by but heading into the final five kilometres the pace really ramped up. Eekhoff looked after Degenkolb for as long as possible but in the twisting and chaotic finale the proverbial “washing machine effect” was on full display in the bunch as lead-out after lead-out came and went from the head of the peloton. Despite his best efforts to move up under the flamme rouge, Degenkolb couldn’t make it back to the front to compete for a result come the finish.
Degenkolb expressed: “We really committed to be in the front early enough to use the full strength of the team. It was super nice. In the last 15 kilometres I think we had something like 20 roundabouts. Until around three kilometres to go we were always in charge of the situation and that kept us out of trouble. When Nils and I were alone in the last three kilometres, it was very difficult in the technical part to stay far enough in front. After such a hard two weeks of racing, I just didn’t have it in the legs to make it back to the front anymore to go for it in the sprint.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Matt Winston added: “I think the guys did a super job actually. When we only have the four climbing guys to support Nils and John before the deep finale, they did a really good job. It’s good for them to work like that, they talked to each other, took a good side of the road and we saw they took initiative to push it into the roundabouts in a really good way. We were just a bit shorthanded there in the final. John and Nils surfed the best they could but it was really hard for them to stay together. When we came into the last kilometre the peloton was so strung out that the guys were fully on the limit and you pretty much stayed where you were.”