A very combative Robert Gesink finished sixth in the first Pyrenees stage of the Tour de France. The 32-year-old Dutchman attacked several times, but didn’t get away. In the general classification nothing changed. Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruijswijk both finished in the group of favourites and remain fourth and seventh overall. 

The stage to Bagnères-de-Luchon was the second longest stage in this Tour de France with a length of two hundred and eighteen kilometres. The pace was once again very fast from the start and it took one-hundred kilometers before a large breakaway with Gesink was established. On both the Col de Menté and the Col du Portillon, an impressive Gesink tried to get away from his competitors several times. 

“I felt really good today and did a good stage. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to win”, Gesink said. “I tried to save my energy as much as possible and hoped to take advantage of the more explosive guys like Yates and Alaphilippe on the climbs. I wanted to anticipate and be ahead of them, but unfortunately I didn’t succeed. My shape is good, my legs are good and there are still opportunities. I keep trying and hopefully I'll be able to win a stage in the future.”

Steven Kruijswijk thought it was a good day. “We have come through the day without problems. All in all, the stage was still difficult because of the fast first one-hundred kilometers. It was going really fast. In the final it was mainly about avoiding risks. The descent was partially wet, so we needed to pay attention. I think tomorrow’s stage should suit me better. We’ll go for it.”