Competitions

Team Quick Step Race Quotes: Tour de France Stage 16

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Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Tour de France 2011

Published on Tuesday, 19 July 2011 19:33

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Dries Devenyns

"The first two hours of the race were a veritable battle in search of a break. Sylvain and I split our duties in the head of the group. On days like these any break could be the right one and you can’t afford not to be there. However the fight to get into the break cost me a ton of energy. On the climb I paid for my initial efforts. When Ignatiev took off I decided to go long and catch up to him. I was within a few metres of him, but my legs didn’t have the strength to catch him. I can’t be disappointed, though, once again today I was in the break with some of the best riders in the world. I had marked this stage as one of those in which I had to be a major player and I managed to be one, in the third week of the race.”

Kevin De Weert

"It’s been a rough day. My legs weren’t super for when Contador made his move, and the following battle certainly didn’t help me. I don’t have the change in rhythm and today with such a tense final I paid a price. However, my Tour isn’t over yet. I’m considering today’s stage as a little mishap and starting tomorrow I plan to turn over a new page immediately.”

Jerome Pineau

In addition to his legs, today Jerome Pineau was suffering with his heart over the death of his uncle Patrick, who died yesterday evening, on his 57th birthday. Patrick was a biking fanatic and had followed the Tour de France for 16 years as a driver for one of the vehicles used for communications at the arrivals. As he did every year, Patrick was doing his job again in this Tour, yet he never missed the chance to greet Jeje at the end of each stage with words of encouragement and a pat on the back. Today Jerome honoured his loss, pedalling in spite of his pain and finishing the stage. Patrick has left a void in the world of two wheels. Our most heartfelt condolences go out to his family, to Jerome Pineau’s family and to everyone who knew and loved Patrick.