Robert Gesink finished the Critérium du Dauphiné in an unspectacular 20th spot, but his second place in the mountains classification showed that he will be strong in July. The Rabobank rider took no break, taking advantage of the Dauphiné's proximity to the Alps. His focus on the first recon day was the 19th stage of the Tour de France.
Accompanied by teammates Luis Leon Sanchez, Juan Manuel Garate, Grischa Niermann, Carlos Barredo and Paul Martens, Gesink went to work. He said that it was a little tough so shortly after the Dauphiné, but doesn't regret the experience. "It is not the first time that I come here," he said on rabosport.nl. "It is a good change from the usual."
The 19th stage certainly has its features. "We rode the Col du Télégraphe, the Galibier, and Alpe d'Huez," Gesink said. He will be especially motivated for that final climb up to Alpe d'Huez. "It will always be known as the Dutch mountain," Gesink said.
This is due to the fact that between 1952 and 1989, eight Dutchmen won the 14 times the Tour ended a stage on Alpe d'Huez in those years. It started with Joop Zoetemelk (1976) and Hennie Kuiper (1977, 1978), continued with Zoetemelk again (1979) and Peter Winnen (1981, 1983). The last two were Steven Rooks (1988) and Gert-Jan Theunisse (1989).
Since then, however, no Dutchman has won on the famous 21 hairpin turns leading to the top of the ski resort. Not even Theunisse, who trained hard in the winter after his big 1989 stage win. He reportedly climbed it 80 times ahead of the 1990 race and was exactly on schedule. But Gianni Bugno was faster, the first rider under the 40-minute mark. The course record is held by Marco Pantani in 37'35. Lance Arsmtrong was one second slower in his 2004 time trial victory.
Gesink won't ride it 80 times, but he hopes to be the first Dutchman since Theunisse to win on Alpe D'Huez. "I'd like to be a contender - it will be a special day."
Gesink also hopes to do well in the overall, having improved his time trialing abilities. He had two top ten finishes, in the Vuelta a País Vasco and in Tirreno-Adriatico, besides winning the race against the clock in the Tour of Oman. The Dauphiné offered the exact same time trial as the Tour de France stage one day after Alpe d'Huez. Unfortunately for Gesink it didn't go great on the longer distance (42 kilometers). He was 2'49 down on stage winner Tony Martin in 23rd place. But Gesink wasn't fazed. He hopes to use Alpe d'Huez to propel him as an overall contender in July. Or to become the first Dutchman since Theunisse to win on Alpe d'Huez - without checking it out 80 times.