That support will certainly be needed. The Dutch team faces a challenging route through Spain and France. Following the opening team time trial, the peloton will head through the Pyrenees and over the Tourmalet before reaching the Alps, where the race will finish atop the legendary Alpe d’Huez twice before arriving in Paris. “That final double-header will undoubtedly be decisive in the battle for the yellow jersey”, Reef predicts.
The Leading Race Coach believes the opening stage in Barcelona will already be crucial. “The team time trial is an important appointment right away. It says a lot about the strength of the team; not just the riders, but the entire organization. We invest heavily in time trialing because we want to be the best, and I’m convinced we can make a difference there as a team.”
“It’s a slightly different course from what we’ve seen in recent years at the Tour, which makes it even more exciting. Completing the Grand Tour trilogy has given Jonas even more motivation to go all-in for the overall victory in France. During the Giro, there was a fantastic atmosphere within the team, with everyone fighting for one another. We want to recreate that same spirit at the Tour de France.”