Maxim Van Gils Impresses with Second Place Finish on Grand Colombier

Tour debutant Maxim Van Gils has made a strong impression by securing second place on the grueling Grand Colombier climb. Van Gils was part of an early breakaway group that separated itself from the main peloton after a fast start. Only two riders were able to stay ahead of the general classification (GC) contenders during the challenging 17-kilometer climb to the finish line. Polish rider Kwiatkowski took the stage win, while Van Gils finished 47 seconds behind him, narrowly holding off Pogaçar and Vingegaard.

Reflecting on his performance, Van Gils said, “When I eventually got away in that sizeable front group, I tried to save as much energy as possible for the ascent of the Grand Colombier. Once on the climb, it was an ‘all-out’ effort until the top. Soon, only the strong climbers remained at the front, and when Kwiatkowski accelerated, I was forced to ride my own pace. When I heard that the GC guys were nearing, I realized it would be a difficult task. Luckily, I had some energy left and could hold on to second place.”

This strong performance comes after a setback earlier in the Tour, when Van Gils crashed on stage two. However, he has bounced back impressively in recent stages. Van Gils stated, “That crash was a pity, but today and yesterday I proved that I’m riding a solid first Tour. Is this stage a missed opportunity? Maybe, but I need to be honest that one guy was better today. But with these legs, there might be some more chances because I really love the Alps.”

In contrast to Van Gils’ success, it was a bittersweet day for Lotto Dstny as their rider Caleb Ewan was forced to abandon the Tour. Ewan had been struggling with fatigue for several days and fought hard but ultimately had to withdraw during stage thirteen of the race. Commenting on his departure, Ewan said, “Leaving the Tour is a real shame. I want to express my gratitude to the team for their big support, and I hope they can still show some nice things in the stages to come.”

The Tour de France continues, and Van Gils will be looking to build on his strong performance as the race heads into the Alps.

Images: Photo News.