[KMC-Sponsored Riders in 100th Tour de France] Thomas de Gendt was awarded Combative prize
Updated : 2013-07-04

After Danny Van Poppel being able to ride in the white jersey on Corsica, Vacansoleil-DCM again was rewarded for its agressive racing so far: Thomas De Gendt was elected ‘combatif du jour’ in Marseille. Up till now HilaireVan Der Schueren’s riders have been represented in most of the breakaways. The team has also played a prominent part in (the preparations for) the bunch sprints. Van Poppel finished 14th in this fitfth stage.

“At 60 km from the finish, I really believed we had a chance”, Thomas De Gendt says. “I had already planned to attack in the final, which I knew from riding La Marseillaise twice before. We simply had to try and stick together in the breakaway. The big question was whether the sprinters would survive the climbs. A pity we were caught after 220km. At least it was good publicity and the red race number is a bit of a consolation.”

(Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team press release)

(Photo: Cor Vos)