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My day at the D-Tour - with Dominik Roels
04/09/2024
3 September 2024
It was wet. It was cold. Not really ideal weather for a cyclist.....
I don't really need too many days like that. It was a lot of torture. ATtthe end I was ice-cold. Underway we really had to be careful not to crash. I wasn't looking forward to the day.
But you gave it a good try at the beginning anway...
The team managment said that Christian Knees, Peter Velits and I should try to be near the front on the climbs. That worked out in the beginning. But the race was once again very fast and hard. I just couldn't stay with them on the very steep ramps.
But you won't give up?!
No, of course not. In the end it was just a question of survival and I was able to spare myself a bit. When it gets closer to my home area today, then I will try to attack again.
The last two stages have been won by Andre Greipel and Gerald Ciolek, two guys from the Rheinland with whom you often train.
I am happy for them. But of course I would be much happier to have a stage winner from my team.
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2 September 2024
How was the day?
In the beginning I tried one or two times to get away. That didn't work out. Then suddenly my teammate Christian Knees was underway in an escape group. That was good, because I didn't have the best legs this time and could hide myself in the field.
Unfortunately there weren't any points this time for the mountain ranking…
I sprinted for them one time, but there was no chance against Daniel Musiol. I had problems with one of my wheels, but only noticed after the finish that the brakes were rubbing a little.
What did you thnk of all the fans?
It was unbelievable, what is happening along the course, how many people are standing on the side of the road. I even heard a couple of fans call my name.
And after the race?
Taking a shower and getting a massage were on my program. Now I will relax and watch a little television.
But first you will eat...
Yes, but I don't eat a mountain of pasta. I prefer a variety of foods and vegetables.
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1 September 2024
How did the second stage go?
I had a chance to recover a little after the hard mountain stage, while three of my teammates did the successful chase work to catch the breakaway group. The only thing for me today was to arrive at the finish.
On Satuday you yourself were in a breakaway shortly after the start, along with three others.....
That was planned so. When the peloton was on the verge of catching us, I broke away again. I wanted to present myself to the cameras for our sponsor, before the field tore by.
You nearly won the mountaink jersey, and are only four points behing Daniel Musiol.
That would have been great, but it didn't work out. I will continue to attack for the jersey in the next few days, when I have good legs and get the ok from the team management.
Neither of the first two stages went optimally for Team MILRAM.
We had expected something higher in the GC on the mountain stage, especially from Peter Velits. Maybe Björn Schröder can go for the win on the flat stages.
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30 August 2024
You came across the finish line as 114th today. How was the D-Tour opener for you?
I went into in fully motiviated, but did not at all want to risk everything. At any rate, I am very happy that, in Brett Lancaster, someone from our team won.
The prologue was very short. How did you day go?
I got up at twenty before eight and rode a round on my bike before breakfast. After the prologue I rode again for an hour and a half, to loosen up my legs. In the afternoon we relaxed by watching a film.
Today you face the Quen stage.
Exactly. I will try to be at the front at the first two mountains and do what I can to help Peter Velits and Christian Knees.
What do you say to the end of Team Gerolsteiner?
That is a real blow to German cycling. Now there are a lot of young riders on the market, and some of them won't find jobs. I still have a year on my contract with MILRAM, but if the situation stays as it is, then the competition for a place on a team will be much harder.
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