27-year-old sitting in strong position 4th overall, but struggling for respect amongst the race's veterans
Omega Pharma's 27-year-old Tour de France general classification hope, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, rode capably to place himself comfortably in the middle of the group of favorites after this year's first big day in the mountains. The former World Junior Time Trial champion finished 7th on the day and now sits a surprising 4th overall, 1:03 behind Cadel Evans, 43 seconds behind Andy Schleck, and only 2 seconds behind defending Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador. Van Den Broeck is in elite company at the moment, but he's not basking in the warmth of the rarefied air atop the standings.
"We should especially not be euphoric right now, because we still have two weeks to go in the Tour de France. I'm going to keep my feet on the ground, but I cannot deny that I've come through the first part of the Tour de France well. It's definitely better to be fourth rather than fortieth in the overall," said the surprising rider from Herentals to De Standaard immediately after crossing the line.
Van Den Broeck was not surprised about anything that occurred during the stage, saying that it went about as he had imagined it ahead of time. However, when it came time to race for the win in the waning moments, he found that he just didn't have the legs to make the necessary difference.
"The race itself went as expected. The team of Alberto Contador dictated the pace. I had to follow. Only in the final kilometers was there any real attacking. I myself tried to get away, but I just didn't have enough punch to succeed."
Leading up to the crucial final kilometer, Van Den Broeck was apparently at odds with both World Champion and now yellow jersey wearer, Cadel Evans, as well as the sole RadioShack representative in the front group, Levi Leipheimer.
"Before [the last kilometer], I had already been at loggerheads with Cadel Evans. He snapped at me, because he said I was in the way of his riding too much. I replied to him that I have as much right to a place on the road as he does."
Speaking with both Het Laatste Nieuws and Sporza, however, Van Den Broeck talks about a scuffle he had with former Tour de France podium finisher and three-time Tour of California winner, Levi Leipheimer: "It was a hectic day. Leipheimer was fighting me. I told him I had as much right to ride in the first group as he did. He will now know who he was fighting...In the end, I'm here to compete, but I do not punch other riders."
Van Den Broeck's statements are an interesting insight into the dynamics of the hyper-competitive leading group in the mountains. From the camera's view above the riders or in front, it's often difficult to get an idea of the struggling that goes on between the riders, even when a group is as small as the baker's dozen it ended up dwindling down to in today's stage finish in Morzine-Avoriaz.
The scuffling Van Den Broeck endured with both Evans and Leipheimer was not the only thing of interest that last year's 15th overall at the Tour de France had to say. While most were quick to laud Andy Schleck's powerful move in the final 1000 meters, Van Den Broeck admits that he was still most impressed with the defending Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador.
"Despite Andy Schleck's win, I still found Alberto Contador the best rider in our top group…Contador looked especially good. I was actually least impressed with Cadel Evans."
Van Den Broeck is without question not intimidated by the elite company he is now keeping. The question is whether his young audacity will become an issue in the coming days. For Van Den Broeck, however, he is only looking ahead at the arduous days to come.
"Tuesday is the toughest mountain stage in the Alps, not Wednesday, which will be a harmless stage to Gap. After that, comes the Pyrenees."