Tim Declercq crashed yesterday 60 kilometers from the finish and suffered a lot of abrasions. After a solo trip he arrived in time, but today the fast start immediately got him into trouble again. The images spoke for themselves. With his tongue out, Declercq soon dangled completely by the tail.
Declercq eventually finished neatly on time, in the company of Edward Theuns and Dries Devenyns. “This was one of my toughest days ever on the bike. Of course I knew it before the start. The level is so high here.
If you are a little less yourself, then you know that it will be hard work.”
“There was exactly a brake on it, I couldn’t explode like usual. Fortunately I was still able to drive some pace, but it was a day to forget quickly.”
Tomorrow it will be even tougher with the first Pyrenees stage and so Declercq keeps his fingers crossed that he is recovering well. “I hope a good night’s sleep can do wonders. Last night I had little or no sleep.”
“I hope it will be fine by tomorrow. Today was perhaps the hardest day. Tomorrow I still have to survive and then the rest day will be more welcome than ever.”
