It’s slowly sinking in for Thymen Arensman: "I still remember watching Dumoulin, Thomas and Bardet in 2018… So surreal"

After the Dutchman from INEOS Grenadiers crossed the finish line triumphantly, he quickly collapsed to the ground. He was utterly exhausted, as was clearly evident. Tadej Pogacar finished second behind the Dutchman, after which the yellow jersey wearer from UAE Emirates-XRG came to congratulate the Dutchman.

“Amazing,” Arensman struggled to find the right words after the race on NOS. “Crazy... I'm almost lost for words. I think I still haven't quite processed it yet; it still feels a bit like a dream. Winning a stage in the Tour... That could make your career, especially the way it happened. I think you'll have to talk to me tomorrow, after I've had a night's sleep, because I have no idea what I've accomplished."

The favorites gradually closed in on Arensman on the final climb. "I already knew on the Peyresourde that they were keeping us pretty close, which is why I attacked. The pace in the leading group just wasn't fast enough, so with the legs I had, I just had to attack. I happened to tell the guys before the stage that if they put Carlos (Rodriguez, ed.) and me in a situation where we had a four-minute lead, they wouldn't let us get away."

The Dutchman started the final climb with a three-minute lead. "So the whole time I was thinking: yes, yes, yes... I also saw quite a few Dutch flags on the last climb. They really gave me a few extra watts, and that was just enough for the victory, so thank you for that," he said gratefully.

While viewers on TV found it quite exciting, Arensman himself was not sure for a long time whether victory was possible. “To be honest, it was only 200 meters before the finish line when it flattened out a bit. I saw a sign that said 9.8%, and I thought, "This isn't going to happen." I think from about 8 kilometers from the finish line, I just felt all the energy draining from my legs, and I was really close to cramping up. I tried to keep my pace and keep going.”

Ultimately, it was partly thanks to the fans that he managed to win. "As I said, all the fans and all the Dutch people standing along the road made sure that I was able to do it in the end," said Arensman, who is not yet sure exactly what this victory means. "I have no idea... It's the biggest race in the world, so as I said: a stage in the Tour is already life-changing, but the way I did it today is truly incredible. Already a first and second place, and there are more opportunities to come, also for the team. Unbelievable."

The Dutchman told the organization a similar story. "I had already ridden the Giro and got sick. Even though I was sick, I was still well prepared. I went to my first Tour and wanted to experience what it would be like. I stayed patient in the first week because it was all pretty punchy. So I waited for the mountains. At the first opportunity I got, I finished second (in stage ten, ed.). That was already a great experience."

"This is unbelievable," Arensman continues. "Also, the way I pulled it off today. Carlos was also in the group, and he was very strong too. He did a great job for me, but I had great legs, and I'm in top shape. I heard the difference with the favorites and thought: ‘With Tadej and Jonas behind me, three and a half minutes is probably not enough. I have to go. Maybe it would be a failure, maybe not... To win a stage like this is unbelievable."

After the finish, Arensman told the Dutch NOS they should come back on Sunday to ask how he was feeling, but the network show De Avondetappe already stopped by the hotel on Saturday evening. “It’s starting to sink in a little, I think. What I’ve done is really special. A stage in the biggest race in the world... and the way it happened too... is very special.”

“One of the queen stages of this Tour, with the Tourmalet in it, that feels pretty surreal,” said the INEOS Grenadiers rider, who was so focused before the stage that he didn’t speak to the press. “I already felt in the time trial that I had great legs, so it was hard to hold back. My coach was behind me and told me to hold back. He said: be patient, wait for tomorrow.”

“My parents are here too, and like many Dutch families, we used to go to the Alps every year, to the foot of Alpe d’Huez. I still remember standing there in 2018, watching Geraint Thomas - now my teammate - in yellow, battling Tom Dumoulin and Romain Bardet. And now those guys are friends, teammates… that’s so surreal. Back then they were racing against each other. And now I’m doing it myself, in the Tour. Very special.”

Arensman and Dumoulin still keep in touch. “Earlier this year he came to visit me at home in Andorra, which was a special experience. He’s still my idol, so those conversations meant a lot to me. He gave me his number and told me I could always reach out with questions. Which I did, both before the Giro and the Tour. He even texted me: ‘Now you’ve had your Arcalis,’” referring to Dumoulin’s 2016 Tour stage win in similar fashion.

Even Tadej Pogacar let Arensman enjoy the moment. “Tadej is such a nice guy. Back in 2018 when we finished first and second in the Tour de l’Avenir, he was already like that.”