John Degenkolb bounces back from Tour de France injury
"The injury that he’s got I think probably only five per cent of the Tour de France riders would continue with that." - Giant-Shimano pilot Koen de Kort

John Degenkolb wins the 2014 Ghent-Wevelgem
John Degenkolb appears fit for another shot at a maiden Tour de France stage victory today after enduring an injury that contributed to the “hardest week” of his burgeoning career to date.
Degenkolb led the charging peloton that was just unable to capture Tony Gallopin (Lotto Belisol) at the end of yesterday’s lumpy 11th stage and, whilst frustrated, took confidence from a second place that indicated a return to form.
The Gent-Wevelgem champion sustained a gluteus maximus rupture in a crash on wet roads during the fifth stage of the race that Giant-Shimano team-mate Koen de Kort didn’t underestimate.
Speaking from the first race rest day, on Tuesday, de Kort was unsure if his room-mate, who, visibly tired, admitted the same day to not feeling perfect, would be fully recovered in time for the suitable undulating stages that present this week.
“The injury that he’s got I think probably only five per cent of the Tour de France riders would continue with that, and he’s been in a lot of pain,” de Kort said. “It’s already unbelievable for me that he’s in still in the race.”
Degenkolb, who, along with seven-time Tour stage winner Marcel Kittel, is a co-leader of the Dutch outfit competing in France, believes he has a “good chance” in today’s 185.5km run, which suits his strengths as a more versatile sprinter.
“My morale is much better and this gives me a lot of self confidence again after a week of a lot of pain,” the 25-year-old said. “I think it was really the hardest week of my cycling career – mentally and also from the pain.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Stage 12 from Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-Etienne today features four categorised climbs with high temperatures forecast. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) is just one rival Degenkolb will have to overcome with the green jersey leader still looking for his first stage win of this race edition.
A victory for Degenkolb would mark a Grand Tour hat-trick. The German won five stages of the Vuelta a Espana in 2012 and one at the Giro d’Italia in 2013.
Twitter: @SophieSmith86
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.
-
Romain Grégoire descends to take Tour de Suisse opening stage win
The 22 year-old Frenchman attacked the day’s final descent in pouring rain to win from a huge breakaway take the overall lead
-
Tadej Pogačar wins the Critérium du Dauphiné as Lenny Martinez bags the final stage at Plateau du Mont-Cenis
Pogačar lays down a Tour de France marker, comfortably resisting a late attack from Jonas Vignegaard to take the overall honours
-
Fabio Jakobsen forced to halt cycling for 'foreseeable future' due to iliac artery flow limitations
Dutch sprinter set to undergo surgery in order to attempt to fix the issue
-
'It used to annoy me when people said 'enjoy it', now cycling is my job, I understand': Oscar Onley on his rise through the ranks
The 22-year-old talks through his beginnings as a cyclist, turning pro with Picnic PostNL and what’s next in 2025.
-
'It's not worth risking his long term health': DSM-Firmenich withdraw concussed Romain Bardet from Tour de France
DSM-Firmenich enact their concussion protocol to withdraw the Frenchman from the race
-
'This is insane': Alberto Dainese comes back from illness to triumph in photo finish on Giro d'Italia stage 17 sprint
DSM rider finished last on Sunday's stage with a stomach bug, but bounced back to take win in his home region
-
‘It’s been nice rubbing shoulders with the big boys’ - Great Britain’s Max Poole shines at Tour of the Alps
20-year-old won the best young rider classification at five day stage race in Austria and north east Italy
-
Jumbo-Visma set to use adjustable tyre pressure systems at Paris-Roubaix
The Dutch team and DSM will both utilise different systems on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’
-
Pfeiffer Georgi relishes new leadership role at Team DSM
'I feel like I’m able to be more in the race,' says the in-form Brit
-
‘It was perfect being boxed in’ - Charlotte Kool doubles up on final day of UAE Tour
The Dutchwoman proved the fastest, while Elisa Longo Borghini toasts overall victory with ice cream