At the Tour de France, the Geraer Degenkolb achieves a dream with stage victory.
Roubaix. John Degenkolb could barely hold his bike: broken, dirty, completely emptied, the journalists surrounded him at Roubaix . And Degenkolb cried, cried as best we could for those horrible 22 kilometers of paved streets. Her moist, encrusted face shone despite the pain in her legs. He did, he did, and he knew who he was to thank. Geraer, 29, showed the sky over France .
"I dedicated this victory to my father's best friend.He died in an accident at work in October.He supported me when I started riding a bike, and after, "said Degenkolb after the ninth round of the tour:" I wanted to win a big victory for him, and I still had it in my mind. "
The victory did not take place. could not have been bigger. In Trek-Segafredo Roubaix Trek-Segafredo's career culminated three years ago when he triumphed in the classic spring of Paris-Roubaix. He was the first German for 119 years, who could win here. In the same year, he also managed to win at Milan-Sanremo. It's not better.
Degenkolb perfumed his luck
But his career was about to become completely out of step. In 2016, a 73-year-old British woman in Spain entered a training group Degenkolb . He had to be operated on five times as a result of the accident, his index almost amputated. A scar on his forearm then broken testifies today from January 23, 2016. After that, he rarely ran to Degenkolb . Often the healer had to deal with injuries. In this year's classic after Roubaix he was injured, had to pause for four weeks.
And now the victory in "The Northern Hell". Now the first German victory in the Tour de France . Now Degenkolbs First victory in the sixth attempt of the most difficult cycling race in the world. "I can not say it with words, it's amazing that I'm still here," Degenkolb told the press conference in Velodrom, where he won in 2015. " Many people no longer believed in me, never thought I would reach the level of performance again. "
Maybe not either, before he left he had been reluctant, the focus was on the captain Bauke Mollema .But 200 meters before the finish line at Roubaix after 156.5 kilometers, on which he came to several falls, scented Degenkolb his luck Next to him, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and his compatriot Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step). "I knew I could do sprint, but not so it was enough. "That was enough.The battered van Avermaet was able to defend the maill t yellow
Spend a lot of time with the family on the day of rest
"The most difficult part is: you must not lose confidence in yourself"] Degenkolb . "I am so happy that my wife and my family have given me this strength." The day of rest this Monday, his family pays him a visit to Annecy . There will be something to celebrate, they already know it.
"The attack was really strong," greeted André Greipel of Lotto Soudal. The 35-year-old man was sitting after the race with deep scratches on his arms and legs on the stairs of the bus team. Like many pilots, Rostocker, 35 years old, crashed. Four-time Tour winner Chris Froome was involved in an accident at kilometer 111, but could catch up on the field. The hardest thing was Richie Porte. The Australian had started as rival of Captain Froome Sky, but for him the tour is over due to an injury to the shoulder.
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