LA PLAGNE (France) – "I tried to look back as little as possible," says Arensman, "because it's not really necessary. You just risk getting distracted. I had the radio, and they told me the lead was more or less stable at 30 seconds. But I preferred not to trust it and followed my instincts. I only focused on the finish line, because I can't influence other people's legs anyway. I could only go as fast as I could, fighting against my body. It's the only thing you can do in those moments. Look ahead, maintain a good pace and give your all to reach the finish line. That's what I should have done and that's what I did. And I'm really proud of it."
A game of chess
Thymen Arensman, 25-year-old Dutchman in the jersey Ineos Grenadiers, wins the second stage of his Tour, after the one in Superbagneres. In reality, it is not clear how much of it was due to his enormous merit and how much to the indulgence of his pursuers.The feeling, on this cold and wet afternoon in the French Alps, is that Pogacar was not as strong as usual and, in addition, he did not want to serve the victory to Vingegaard who stayed close behind him all day. He would have let Lipowitz win, too, but not the Dane. Friends never, we wrote it at the beginning of the Tour, and today we had confirmation of itThe yellow jersey seemed determined to win and even attacked. But when he realized he couldn't open up a gap, he closed in on Arensman's first attack and then focused on his own lead.
"Today we tried to focus on the stage," says Pogacar, cold and tired, "because we felt strong. We did a good job of holding the race, then We noticed that some riders thought they could sprint after a 19km climbNobody wanted to shoot. So I made an attack and thought that with Jonas we could get to the top, but Arensman was there and today he proved to be the strongestI tried to pace myself. Obviously, I'm tired; it's not easy to be attacked from the first to the last day and always stay focused and motivated. The priority is the yellow jersey, so in the end I was counting the kilometersI kept my head up and hoped no one would attack me. It's too early to talk about a victory in the Paris stage; I'm pretty exhausted."
The relaunch of Arensman
At the end of 2022, Arensman left Team DSM for Ineos, with the belief that it could become one of the talents for the Grand Tours. In reality, things did not go as he first expected, but This second victory starting from the group of the best relights a spotlight that seemed definitively dark.
«Maybe now I can have a little more confidence in my abilities – he says – I know I can win two stages at the Tour and I have what it takes to be among the best. But I'm also a human being, still alive and well, I have my limits and I do my best. Today's stage is a good push to think about a general classification againIt's not so much the two stages, but rather how I prepared after the crash at the Giro and in view of the Tour (Arensman had crashed and injured his knee in the San Valentino stage, ed.). How I took care of my body, the choices I made, the preparation I adopted with my coachWe've changed a few little things this season. I'm calmer. I have more confidence in myself and in the process. And I think they're the main things I take with me for the next few years of my career. I'm proud of these changes, because they seem to be working."
Between strength and cunning
The first attack from behind was short-lived. The Slovenian was still determined to win and closed the gap easily. Arensman looked at him and realized that he and Vingegaard weren't having a great connection. So he moved to the left side of the road and took off againThis time Pogacar looked back, sensed the lack of reaction, and let it happen.
«Hearing that Pogacar said he was the strongest – he smiles – is a really nice complimentI can't feel his legs, but I'm sure he had and still has the desire to win another stage at the Tour. Maybe, if he had had the right strength, he would have attacked himIn the end I think they were very close to me, but I also had good legs and tried to play it smart. I know Jonas and Tadej sometimes look at each other, so I tried to attack again and in the end it was the right decision."
The thread of the past
You can feel the desire to be there in front and the mental fatigue of when you can't do it for so longFinding himself fighting against Pogacar (albeit in a very distant position in the standings) rekindled memories in Arensman that he thought were buried.
«The first time I met Tadej – he says – was during theThe 2018 Tour de l'Avenir, when we finished first and second in the general classificationI immediately understood that he is a truly special rider, a truly great talent. I was in my second year, he was in his first year as an under 23 and I really didn't expect him to become so strong.But it was really nice, for an eighteen-year-old and a nineteen-year-old, to challenge each other in that great race. And now I'm here at the Tour de France, my first Tour de France and I've already won two stagesIf I think back to those days and see myself today, it's all very special. It's like a thread that's reconnected and that I can finally follow now."
