Robert Gesink's lead over Rein Taaramäe in the young rider's competition dropped by 54 seconds on the eighth stage of the Tour de France that finished atop the climb of Super-Besse Sancy. The Dutchman is still suffering from the stage-five crash, a day when several riders went down.
Gesink was 56th, 1'23 down on stage winner Rui Costa and the team's mood was not happy. "We are not celebrating," said Rabobank manager Erik Breukink. Gesink himself couldn't explain his race. "I was asking myself what I was doing here," he said on rabosport.nl. Gesink took over the white jersey when Geraint Thomas waited for his team captain Bradley Wiggins in stage seven.
But there was not much euphoria for the Dutchman at today's finish. "The body doesn't want to go on anymore," he said. "It was a tough day and a frustrating one." Gesink talked about an off-day. "But that is an understatement. I had hoped I could hang on, but there was nothing to do." Gesink said that he feels differently normally. "They accelerated one single time and I had to let them go."
Gesink said that his head was there, but his legs couldn't follow. "The Tour is difficult as is, but now it is with an additional problem." He had a lot of hopes for the 2011 Tour de France and is frustrated that he cannot show it. "I am a racer with a much better level than what I am currently showing."
Breukink realizes that his captain is not his usual self. "Normally, Robert sits with one leg in the first group," Breukink explained. "Thor Hushovd and Philippe Gilbert were over a minute ahead. That already says a lot."
Gesink's teammates were all there for the captain. Until 25 kilometers to go they were able to stabilize the situation, but then it became difficult. "You see Robert suffer," said Laurens Ten Dam. "It will be difficult - recovering in the Tour is almost impossible."
As someone who had his share on injuries in the recent past, Ten Dam could feel with Gesink. "For a while we had some hope, when Robert sat on the front, like he usually does. But in the finale he was dropped. It puts a damper on it all."
The management was also not in the best of moods. "We have to hope that he can recover, but there isn't much time. Sunday will be another tough day." Despite the bunch finish Friday, Gesink already suffered there. "Today, there was even more physical ability asked," Breukink said.