"An eight?" Replied Marc Goos when asked to give his Giro performance a score.The 23-year-old Dutchman actually prefers to let others judge his performance, but is clearly pleased with his Giro debut. And that is not unjustified. The Belkin rider was in the last week remarkably long time in the mountains and was thus an important force for leader Wilco Kelderman. Time to hear his story as he told it to WeilerFlits.nl

Important Role

"I went with very low expectations for the Giro far," Goos begins his story. "It was only my first big race and furthermore did not go as planned preparation. I have been aware for the first time on stage, but soon became ill. I had an enterovirus incurred. That's why I can not do much and I left home earlier. Then you get some more uncertainty to the Giro. It was waiting to see how it would go, but I can do my thing very well. I did not expect in advance. "

It was a good thing for Belkin rookie performed well. After the failure of Steven Kruijswijk, Goos was the only man who could assist Kelderman in the mountains. "My role was therefore something important. I also noticed from the team. They wanted that I would save for the mountain stages, so that I could stay in that as long as possible to with Wilco. With Steven there, I would have had more help. My job does not change, but my role was more important. "

Therefore, it was of great importance that Goos would not fall out. In a Giro that was characterized by falls, he is also gone against the ground. "Just once, but it was not so hard. It happened in the leg with the first arriving above. There was at foot of the climb a crash and there I was with. Actually I have that respect very very lucky. Especially with that big crash, where almost the entire squad was beaten, I was very lucky. I could just between bikes. "

"It was really crazy”

The last week for the Brabander was the best of the three. At times when the Belkin rider was dropped in mountain stages of the pack usually were no more than thirty in the group with the favorites. "The last week was actually surprisingly good. It is difficult to explain why this is so. It might have something to do with my poor preparation, so I needed more time to get to it. Moreover, I missed match practice to immediately assist. But that was not so bad, since the third week was by far the most important. And in that week I felt just very fit and strong. It seemed as if I was even better in the third week, especially when we went to the mountains. Maybe that is something that is good for me. And that's a very nice discovery. "

His best result in the queen took Goos on the Gavia and Stelvio, when he finished 29th. "That was probably my best day in the Giro. I then had really really good legs. It was obviously a bizarre stage. I'll never forget that we are over in the snow, the Gavia and Stelvio. I'm glad I was able to stay so I eat it and I can give clothes. Then at Wilco It is very important in such a stage to take care of yourself properly. But whatever you do, eventually you talking just super cold. Then it simply: by putting the mindless and go. "

"Especially in the downhill it was heavy. Uphill was all too bad. You are so in the near future, then it does not really matter what the weather is. But the bowls were terrible with the cold and snow. I noticed after a mile that my glasses were frozen. I even felt as if my face was freezing. I could not see anything, maybe it was not the worst. You put your glasses off, but then, but then you get snow in your face which you rarely see. You try to dry your glasses a little bit helps. I could not do more than twenty feet in front of me looking out. I saw the rider in front of me, yet often and I was then but a little off. When he braked, I thought, but then I have to brake, because then there must be a bend. It was really crazy. "

"I thought the descent so that I was fired from the group because I saw nothing more. Following a kilometer But after five kilometers pulled the snow a little way, and everything was a little more visible. Then suddenly it appeared that everybody was twenty feet apart, and the whole group was just complete. That was an experience. And the worst part is that you're going through it several times, because even after following the descent of the Gavia Stelvio. Then freezes your glasses and everything repeats itself. Therefore, the rate should be, actually neutralized because it was not safe. Because everyone has an equal burden of, you saw that few riders down were louder than the rest. Well, except one Nario Quintana. Who apparently had not seen the red flag. That was a very strange situation. "

The later Giro winner was with Pierre Rolland, Ryder Hesjedal and several servants drove away. At the bottom of the descent, the group had nearly two minutes ahead. "Because I was still sitting there, there was also asked us to ride in the chase. There was a bit of panic in our group. And in addition a lot of frustration. I have subsequently completely empty ridden in pursuit Quintana. My finish was at the bottom of the final climb. "Goos finally came in 29th at almost 23 minutes inside. Two minutes before he finished 28th in the outcome and four minutes later the number 30. "That shows how hard it all was. You may think the Gavia and Stelvio, that's the stage. But then there is also a final climb of nearly twenty kilometers to! There you also do not quite long time (laughs). I tried to save for another day, energy but you're already so broken that you still refrain. The goal was to be in a good position to bring. Wilco in the final My own result is an afterthought.”

"In retrospect, I am glad that this stage is simply gone. Anyway. Many riders will say they are not happy about it, but I think it's great that I can tell you that I've been through this. It's all for my time, but I still remember the images of Johan van der Velde and Erik Breukink when she drove over the mountains with deep snow along the side. We have now gone through something similar. That you will always be with you."

Also the stage to the Zoncolan will linger long in Goos’ memory. "It was a madhouse on that mountain. It was not normal how much crowd was there. But I did not so much bother, though. I've gotten a few big boosts, but that's not as bad as you ride a mountain ten miles an hour in itself. Then that occasionally does you good, such a push in your back (laughs). There are always those crazy people who want to come into the picture and do what they want. So that you do not hold on, but all that gave me a lot of public morality. You are, of course, to the renunciation, but there are so many spectators, you still get a kick."

Appreciation

Goos finished the race 35th and could refurbish a lot of work for leader Wilco Kelderman. That was appreciated within the team. "They all thought it was very clever that in my first round so was able to perform. I think I have shown that this work is good for me. The team management was very happy about. It was hoped that I could stay in the mountains. Wilco long When entering the favorites is the man against man and Wilco should do it yourself, but before it is useful if there is a male assessors who can assist him. I'm glad I can do this. The collaboration with him moreover went very well. Wilco is a very fine leader to work. I've known him for quite a long time: from the pledge period. He just knows exactly what he wants and is very relaxed. I can work with him in a relaxed manner. I think it was perfect between us."

Not only within the team, the Belkin rider could count on compliments. Goos has had positive reactions from many outsid of Belkin. "I think people sometimes heard my name on television. There is obviously a lot of attention to the Giro. If you are Wilco, it is also important to your name often mentioned in the media. I think after the Giro more people know who Marc Goos is. "Despite the fact that the Dutchman has driven in the attack. Never once "Prior to the Giro I had hoped to go. Several times in attack But when Steven had fallen, it was my role in the mountains even more important. Because Wilco was so good, I had to stay with him as much as possible. Once I attacked. That was in the stage to Plan de Monte Campione, when Aru won. But I was just not count as they drove away. I felt at that moment a pity, but ultimately it did not matter much since the break was caught before the final ascent.”

Development

The contrast is great: two years ago drove the Dutchman in May, the Tour de Gironde, hoping for a pro contract yet. This season he rides in the Giro among the world top. "If you're in a race, you do not stand much thought. But sometimes you think: gosh, it's all very well done. It was always a dream to start in the Giro. The Tour de Gironde is also a nice game, but the Giro is the crème de la crème. It is super cool as a group of 25 men with only top drive over the Gavia and you mistress there. That is enjoy and gives even more moral."

"I make every year a step. I hope that by being able to stay put. I have to go in that regard. Enough years It's hard to say what my next step is going to be. I have yet to discover where the end is my max. "For now, the 23-year-old rider will continue to play. Serving a role in big games "With a great team like Belkin have obviously very good leaders. That's why you always go for the highest and has only one top ten or often just profits. Then you have a subservient role. Soon I hope I can be even more. Valuable in the future. There are best races where I can go for their own opportunities, but in big races, we always have a strong leader, and I ride in the service of that leader."

However, the second-year pro is committed not right down at him throughout his career remains a servant. "I want to see how far I've come. I have not reached my max and try to get what you came for. What that is, I do not know. For now I can be of great value to the ranking men. Whether I'm good enough to enforce a free role later should tell. It's something that I should pursue. A leader is the best there is, but you can not think too many steps ahead. We see matter what the future brings."

In the short term it is not yet clear. The future, at least Goos has at the moment of speaking (Wednesday) has not yet gotten his program. "They could not even tell where I'm riding. Coincidentally I must ride in the Tour of Zeeland Seaports, but for the rest it is a little wait. "When you come out strongly in the Giro, teaches past that then you could drive a good game. Kruijswijk rode well after a ride in the Giro in the Tour of Switzerland so he is a good example. "I now feel some fatigue, but I think I could go through to another race. Unfortunately im not riding the Dauphine. That's a pity. For the Tour of Switzerland it is also seen. It is so difficult that I must prepare me now. I'll ride the Dutch championships, but it will take a while before we're ready. I hope that I can still rates somewhere."