Johnny: “I rode a very good stage”

Rafael Valls accepted, almost apologetically, compliments from team manager Hilaire Van der Schueren after the sixteenth stage on the heavy Pyrenean peaks at the Aubisque and Tourmalet. “I didn’t have anything left in my legs”, Valls smiled. Valls was a part of a leading group of 38 men, together with Vacansoleil-DCM teammate Johnny Hoogerland. Johnny and Rafael were caught up just before the finish in Bagneres-de-Luchon, but they were satisfied with their performance.

Hoogerland had to slow down on the Tourmalet. “It was unbelievably hard,” he said. “The pace exploded and so I decided to ride at my own pace. If I always go try to keep up with the fastest men I'll just exhaust myself. I was hoping to come back but that failed. Eventually, I found a nice group with Cadel Evans and others. We rode together to the finish from the Peyresourde .”

Besides teammate Valls, Hoogerland also had two compatriots in the first group: Laurens ten Dam and Steven Kruiswijk. “The four of us decided to help each other to achieve a good result. It would be stupid if we rode against each other,” said Hoogerland.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a success. “I rode a super stage but now I feel like a wreck. Normally, I have quite a fast recovery but I don’t know if I will be able to ride with the head of the peloton tomorrow,” said the popular cyclist.

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