Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol Team) holds 9th place overall after the time trial.
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Lotto-Belisol leader to attack in the coming stages
Jurgen Van den Broeck only slipped a single place – from eight to ninth – in the Tour de France general classification at the end of stage nine’s time trial. However, it is the increased deficit to current race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) that should be most concerning for the 29-year-old. The Belgian climber began the stage 2:11 behind and ended the day 5:20 from the British race leader.
Van den Broeck was consistent in his test against the clock, losing approximately one minute at each time check, including the final one at the finish line in Besançon. It wasn’t his greatest performance but his 26th-place time wasn’t too far off the majority of the general classification contenders – barring Wiggins and second-placed Chris Froome (Sky).
The Belgian is now looking forward to a rest day before the proper climbing stages begin. Stage ten from Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine will be the first big test for the climbers as the route passes three categorised climbs, including the 1,501m Col du Grand Colombier. This brutal mountain will see the dwindled peloton race up the 17.4km climb with an average of 7.1 percent and pinches of 17 percent.
“We have not seen any real mountains and from what I have seen, there are some who can crack. Once you crack in the mountains and you can tumble all the way down. Just ask Evans,” he told nieuwsblad.be in reference in Cadel Evans’ failed 2009 Tour campaign.
Van den Broeck knows
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