This is the whole "interview" which is more like an insight on the the last couple of days by Gesink. I thought it would be nice to translate it for the non-Dutch speakers. I wish Gesink could have done this earlier, but maybe that's just the paranoid in me
. Anyway, Enjoy.
Narrator: Gesink showed himself in the penultimate stage of the Dauphine with a second place finish. Some people were already worried because the day before he finished 12 minutes back, but Gesink proved that this concern was unnecessary.
Gesink: I never had that concern, as already stated before, we came to the Dauphine for sharpness and getting better. I got the opportunity from the team to ride in a relaxed manner and not to have the added stress of riding for the GC in a stage race do close to the Tour. Moreover, it costs energy, and that energy we want to save for the Tour.Yesterday was a day wherein we decided to take it easy, this is new for me and maybe a bit odd. I had today and tomorrow written down to test myself and show that I am doing well. It was a good day, Rodriguez was just a bit stronger, I was bummed out by that because I wanted to win the stage of course. The men have all worked hard, today I rode like I was fighting for the GC, squeezed in with everyone in the front group most of the time. The team helped me very well in doing that and I would have liked to repay them with a win. However, for me it was a confirmation of something I already knew; that I’m doing well, I’ve trained properly, and that I’m on the good path leading to the Tour.
Narrator: In Grenoble, Gesink rode the same ITT that is waiting for him at the Tour, it delivered some valuable information.
Gesink: It was a very tough time trial, I think it suits me, having a tough climb from the start. It was good for me to have done this ITT because then you know what’s waiting for you, otherwise I would have simply done a parcourcs recon instead of doing it in a racing environment. Thus, this was good, now I know what I can do and what I can still improve because I know the wattages I put out, that gives me positive hopes en route to the Tour.
For me this is a completely different way of racing, normally I always ride for the GC and you notice that because people are used to it which is why it’s a shame that everyone starts doubting so quickly and don’t have the confidence that this could also be a good Tour preperation. Aside from that it has been a good Dauphine for me whereby I rode around with many guys that are also warming up for the Tour. We have a very nice team with some wacky Spaniards who make for a good atmosphere, together with the Germans we have a very good mix of riders. All in all, it is a good team, which is also important for the Tour.
For example Garate who is very experienced and puts me at ease every day like yesterday for example he told me that I was going to take it easy that day and just let them go. He also told me that this is the first time he’s seen me enjoying myself on the bike and not only looking around all the time and fighting for a good spot, admittedly it is a different approach, but a relaxed one.
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