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 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.”
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 5 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, television reporter and presenter, who has provided coverage for Cycling Weekly from races across the world. She has covered eight Tours de France, as well as reporting for national and international newspapers as well as other magazines.
Follow Sophie Smith on Twitter and Instagram:
Instagram: sophiesmith86
Twitter: @SophieSmith86
-
-
Five talking points from stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
It was a long, hot, and fast day from Parma to Genoa
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Can a classic steel race bike beat a modern superbike?
We fit power meter pedals to a Colnago C68 and a Colnago Master Olympic and ride them back to back to find out what 30 years of progress translates to in the real world. As it turns out? 14 seconds.
By Simon Smythe • Published
-
'I still can't believe it happened' — Alberto Dainese becomes first Italian winner at the 2022 Giro d'Italia
Team DSM sprinter charged to victory on stage 11
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Meet Max Poole, DSM's 19-year old from Scunthorpe who got into cycling through window cleaning
The Briton helped Romain Bardet to victory in his first race, the Tour of the Alps
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Romain Bardet sees himself, Mikel Landa and Richard Carapaz as maybe the 'three best' at the Giro d'Italia
Team DSM's Frenchman sits in third overall on second rest day
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Team DSM choose not to use adjustable pressure system at Paris-Roubaix
Dutch squad will debut system at Tour de France instead
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Lorena Wiebes rules Scheldeprijs winning her second edition with long-range sprint
DSM proved they have the best lead out in the women's peloton monitoring the gap and delivering Wiebes to victory
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Lorena Wiebes peerless in taking the win at Danilith Nokere Koerse
The Team DSM rider backs up her win at Ronde van Drenthe to secure her third successive victory
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
'We have protocols in place to the aid of everyone': Team DSM sports director delivers impassioned response to claims of team being overly strict
The team picked up eight wins in 2021, three coming at the Vuelta a España
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
'I don’t think I’ve reached the top of my abilities yet': Tiesj Benoot breaks contract with Team DSM to join Van Aert and Roglič at Jumbo-Visma
The Belgian talent will be vital support for the Dutch squads leaders on all terrain
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published