Van Hooydonck’s Unusual Move: Following Pogacar in the Final Stage of the Tour de France

Nathan Van Hooydonck’s Bold Move at the Tour de France

Belgian cyclist Nathan Van Hooydonck made headlines during the final stage of the Tour de France with a daring decision. He fearlessly followed Tadej Pogacar’s lead on the iconic Champs-Elysées in Paris, as the Slovenian launched a challenge to the peloton on the last day of the Grande Boucle.

A Risky Move with Good Intentions

In a recent interview with the ‘De Rode Lantaarn’ podcast, Van Hooydonck shed light on his actions and revealed that he had tried to support Pogacar in his adventure. Despite facing criticism from fans, the Belgian rider explained, “I attempted to relieve Pogacar when I had a chance to slow down. Grischa Niermann, our team director, communicated through the earpiece that he could accompany me from the car. We were already seven minutes ahead in the standings, so why should we worry about those extra two minutes? I saw Pogacar surging ahead on the Champs-Elysées, with Jonas Vingegaard behind me. I told him, ‘Let’s follow him and latch onto his wheel.’ However, when I looked back, I realized I was alone.”

Unfair Criticism and Personal Pride

Van Hooydonck acknowledged that he faced more scrutiny due to his affiliation with Team Jumbo-Visma. He expressed his understanding, saying, “Jonas thought, ‘This pace is too fast for me.’ I get it. Why would I push myself unnecessarily? I had my doubts. Should I continue? I also have my pride. Being a Jumbo-Visma cyclist, it bothered me. If it had been another rider, people would have assumed they couldn’t keep up with Pogacar.”

A Memorable Experience and Impressive Performance

Despite the criticism, Van Hooydonck viewed his time with Pogacar on the Champs-Elysées as one of the highlights of the Tour de France. He reflected, “Those moments with Pogacar were the best 20 minutes of my entire Tour. I understand the criticism for not taking over from Pogacar, but if I had the opportunity, I would have done it. In the end, I pushed myself with 432 watts for 11 minutes on Pogacar’s wheel. That’s a significant effort, especially considering it was towards the end of the Tour and it demonstrates Pogacar’s remarkable recovery from his setback on the Col de la Loze.”

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