Sports director INEOS Grenadiers emotional after Arensman's victory: "It's big business, but he's still just a young guy"

Eurosport was the first to get Dempster's reaction. “This is unbelievable, I can't describe it any other way. We've done well so far, but in top-level sport, that's not always enough. Seeing Thymen win like this for the team is one of the things I'll remember forever.”

Dempster also experienced the Giro d'Italia in recent years with Arensman. “You have to give him time. He has already won stages in the Vuelta and is often among the strongest riders in the third week of Grand Tours. In this Tour, it was especially important for him to take a different approach and seize his opportunities. This is the result, but we mustn't forget that they are still just kids...” said the emotional sports director. “This is wonderful.‘

"In the Giro, we saw what sh*t he had to go through, so this is just great," he continues. "We wanted him to ride bravely and just do his thing. If that worked, then so be it. But if it didn't, then so be it. If he didn't win here, the staff at the table would still be proud of him. We stand behind him, in good times and bad."

Dempster also spoke to NOS. “Thymen is someone who pushes himself so hard. Sometimes you want to shake him and say: Thymen, if it works, it works. That was the case today. Those freaks were still chasing him on the final climb, but this is obviously a fantastic victory for us.”

“It's not always easy as a GC rider,” Dempster explains. “You're under constant pressure, and everyone talks and writes about you all the time, but people also forget quickly. Thymen is still a young guy who's just doing his best. Today was no different. He didn't do everything perfectly, but because he was so strong, it didn't matter in the end. And he can be proud of that.”

“These cyclists spend months at the top of a mountain and demand so much of themselves. It's big business, but as I said, they're still young guys. There are many more great moments to come, and we will continue to support him. Thymen has performed well in this Tour, and that is now paying off in the high mountains, as we have seen.”