On the second rest day, I sat down with Brian to discuss what I should do regarding the World Championships in South Africa, and how best to prepare for them. My current schedule didn't include the World at all, let alone one where I was going to be the hot favourite on Home Soil.
Brian had been in this situation in the past, where he had been part of the 'Project Rainbow Jersey' for Cav in 2011. He set it out to me very simply. I had two choices:
1. Leave the Tour early, give my legs that extra rest, and start my build up from the USA Pro Challenge;
2. I continue to Paris, take it easy in the weeks following the Tour, and start my build up to the Worlds at the Tour of Alberta.
I sat in my room for a good hour mulling over the decision, when I came across a great picture from the Stage to Pla d'Adet. It was Tejay, in Yellow, with a fan flying the American flag next to him. It summed up the Tour de France in one.
With that, I had my decision. I knew that I couldn't leave the Tour de France, especially whenI was this close to Paris. The jersey on my back wasn't just for me; it was for the South African fans who watched me on that wet, cold day in March. With any hope, I would be winning the Rainbow Stripes for them in September.
For what it's worth, I think that was the right decision by Martijn. You can't give up on your team-mates when they've got such a great chance of success! Hoping Tejay can hold a decent lead right to the line in Paris
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
With my decision made, I looked ahead to the final week of the Tour and heading to Paris for the finale. Six stages lay ahead, and we were all in it for Tejay and Cav. Yellow and Green were still under threat, and they would only be secured once we hit the Champs-Elysees.
Despite a Mountain Stage in the last week, Stage 18 to Mende could be the one that gives the peleton its final shake up. The finish is steep, and splits in the peleton could occur.
Race Report
The early couple of stages saw me continuing in my role as Domestique and working for the team. Stage 16 was won by Johnny Hoogerland (Giant), as the peleton gently rolling in 13 minutes late. No GC changes so Tejay stayed in Yellow.
The breakway just survived on the fast run in on Stage 17 as well, as a Cat.3 climb before the end of the race was enough to dampen the Sprint Trains. Cav crossed the line in 10th, and all but guaranteeing the Green Jersey in Paris. All he needed to do was just finish the race, and his points lead would be enough.
As expected the route to Mende on Stage 18 would provide fireworks. Tejay was alert to all attacks, even putting in an acceleration of his own towards the end to try and gain more time on those around him. Henao (Sky) would take the win, as only Rui Costa (Belkin) would manage to steal 10" on our man in Yellow, as everyone else finished.
With only a few stages remaining in the Tour, my chances to get in a break was becoming more and more limited. Given their success rate this Grand Tour, a day off the front could give a good chance of a stage win. I would test that theory on Stage 19. It was hilly, just how I like it, and when the attacks went, I kicked off the front with them.
The stage was hard, and after nearly 3 weeks of racing, my legs weren't the same to when I won on Stage 9 in Mulhouse. In the sprint for the line, I had nothing, coming home in 7th. Over 11 minutes later, Cav would take the bunch sprint for 8th.
I took it easy on the Stage 20 ITT in St-Etienne. I was going to be needed for lead-out duties in Paris, so I was happy to converse my legs for that. Chris Froome (Sky) took the victory, with Tejay losing only 1'02", and being crowned the 2016 Tour de France winner, barring any incidents on the Champs-Elysees.
Riding into Paris was a feeling like no other. During my career, I have won National Titles, WorldTour races and ridden the Giro, but the Champs-Elysees was something else. The number of fans was unreal - ten rows deep in places. The first couple of laps were a victory celebration for the team and Tejay, before the racing began. In the sprint for the line, Andre Greipel (Lotto) took the famous victory, with Cav mistiming his sprint and finishing 3rd.
But the result was meaningless on the day. HTC had pulled off the unthinkable, winning both Yellow and Green in the same Tour de France, and at times, it was made to look too easy.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
The end of Tour hype was perfect time for me to finalise the deals for the new South African team that Louis Meintjes and I had been in discussion about. It was much easier to talk to people when you are a Stage Winner in two Grand Tours. The doors that opened up was phenomenal.
Cell C, travelstart and Sasol were already on board, and soon enough so were Felt and Lazer as the Bike and Helmet Suppliers. Louis struck a deal with Castelli to produce the clothing, whilst Android used the Cell C link to be a part of the project as well.
The next stage was Jersey Design and Castelli put me in touch with one of their best guys - HuDCC. Over a number of meetings, we talked about the look of the jersey and soon we had the finished product. Louis and I were very happy with the results!
Very nice work from HuDCC, and Cell C looks like a great team, looking forward to it!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
From the Tour de France to the World Championships, via Canada. That is the best way to describe my schedule towards the end of the season. I was only thinking about South Africa, the Rainbow Jersey and being in the best shape to get my hands on it.
My first ride in Canada is at the Tour of Alberta, a race which has been a good and bad to me in the past. In 2013, this race ended my season, whilst in 2014, I took a great podium place on my way to my first WorldTour victory in the Montreal GP.
As with 2014, the uphill Stage 5 finish could be the GC decider, as splits will be guaranteed on the short, steep finish.
Race Report
The Tour of Alberta opened with a Mountain ITT on Stage 1, and the lack of racing was clear in my ride. I crossed the line in pieces, 1'42" down on Stage Winner Nicolas Edet (La Pomme). Lawson Craddock was our best placed rider in 2nd, just 10" down.
I wanted to stretch my legs on Stage 2, sadly the peleton had other ideas. It was perfectly flat stage, but I was seen to be too dangerous. Ah well... Instead, I became part of the lead-out for Degenkolb, and from there, the result was a formality. The German took the win, and the trend would also continue on Stage 3 & 4. The Points Jersey was pretty sewn up right there!
Going into the GC-deciding Stage 5, 10" was still the gap between Lawson and Edet, so I hatched a plan. I knew the finish from 2014, where I won, so I told Craddock to stay on my wheel and follow my every move. His lead-out at the finish was perfect. The day's break would take the win, but that wasn't an issue. Lawson sprinted to 3rd, I finished in 7th, and Edet? He would finish in 55th, with a 40" gap.
Craddock went into the final sprint in Yellow, and his finish also gave him the KoM Jersey. He was also leading in the U25 Classification, giving the team a clean sweep of the podium. This was a domination. Degenkolb took an easy win on the final Stage 6, completing a great week for HTC
The GP de Quebec would be the penultimate race for me to fine tune myself for the World Championships. It is hilly, just like the Durban course, and a lot of other favourites will be wanting to test their legs as well.
The finish is similar to the one from 2014, where I mistimed my sprint and was poorly positioned in my fight for the victory. It is uphill, goes up in steps, and should be a close fight to the line again.
Race Report
A 7 rider breakaway attacked early in the race, and that would be the lead group on the road for the day. No big names were present, so the Lotto and OmegaPharma teams leading the peleton were happy to let it go.
The break's lead peaked at 6 minutes before the chase back began. With only a few laps to go, it was down to under a minute, and I was beginning to get itchy feet. I wanted to attack, and on a short descent I made my move.
My attack led to only an acceleration from the peleton, and I was neutralised on the flat before the climb to the line. Under the flamme rouge, Wout Poels (OmegaPharma) kicked first, and with everyone looking at each other, he opened up a winning gap. I was suffering from my attack on the descent, crossing the line 9" behind the Belgian winner in 33rd place. Far from ideal with one of the biggest races of my life only 1 race away!
My disappointment in Quebec had hit me hard, and left me feeling like I did after the Ardennes. I had let everyone else down back in April, and after the hard work only a few days ago, I was feeling like I had done the same again. It was made worse that I had failed to learn from my past mistakes.
Just like Quebec, the GP de Montreal route had returned to its 2014 course. A course were I won my first WorldTour race. The team was strong in my support, and the message was clear. Stay clear, play the waiting game, and let the others do all the work.
Race Report
A small group of two riders formed the day's break, after a large group of attacks were initially neutralised at the start. Team Sky, OmegaPharma and Orica set themselves up on the front, and the gap was kept well under control.
The changeable weather, plus the high pace, was causing havoc in the peleton. Splits began to form, and soon the chase group was down to only 54 riders. Most of the favourites were present, but some had missed the cut.
When the attacks happened, I bided my time. Nibali (Cannondale), Kwiatkowski (OmegaPharma) and Kreuziger (Orica) were most active, and soon they were breaking apart the group of favourites that had formed.
Going on instinct, I tracked their move, it seemed to pay off. I latched onto the back of the group, but sadly Nibali had already attacked for the win. There was no catching him, but a podium was still on the cards.
The Italian took a comfortable win, but the battle was behind. Kreuziger had gone early in the sprint, just holding on for second, but a late lunge for the line gave me the final podium place ahead of Kwiatkowski. The delight on my face was a sight to see! I had never been this happy with a podium place in a long while.
Tejay Van Garderen
Robert Gesink
Chris Froome
Rui Costa
Alberto Contador
Martijn North
André Greipel
Nacer Bouhanni
Gerlando De Patre
Tinkoff-Saxo
Simon Clarke
Wout Poels
Michal Kwiatkowski
Roman Kreuziger
Kristjan Koren
Nairo Quintana
Peter Sagan
