Stage 9: “We burned our powder too early – It didn't look good.”

In the latest edition, Denk reflects on the ninth stage of the 2026 Tour de France. “We expected a classic breakaway to form, but things turned out differently. We wanted Maxim van Gils to make that break and went all in right from the start. But the breakaway never really came together, so we spent our energy relatively early,” says the 52-year-old. “The fact that Remco and Florian were isolated was far from ideal. That's something we need to discuss internally as a team. You can't prioritize a potential stage win over the overall classification. It worked out in the end, but it didn't look good. I can understand why the fans were unhappy,” the team manager emphasizes. The final part looks ahead to Stage 10, which will take place on Tuesday. The riders will cover 166 kilometers from Aurillac to Le Lioran. “I'm firmly expecting a day for the general classification contenders and a race of attrition. If Remco and Florian are feeling good, we can certainly try something,” Denk concludes.