'You can't keep that up to Paris' - Van Wilder questions Visma's tactics

Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-QuickStep) commented on the racing dynamics following stage 12 of the Tour de France to Hautacam, while also praising his team leader Remco Evenepoel's performance, recovering from being dropped early, to keep firmly in the hunt for the podium.

The 25-year-old Belgian rider suggested that the intense pace and aggressive racing style set by Visma | Lease a Bike during the race so far caused issues on stage 12 for many riders, including members of the Dutch team themselves.

"A lot of riders blew themselves up trying to match Visma | Lease a Bike's pace," Van Wilder explained to Het Nieuwsblad after the finish of stage 12 to Hautacam.

"And Visma themselves did too. Because the way they race, you simply can't keep it up all the way to Paris. I'm sorry to say, but those guys smelled blood after Tadej crashed yesterday and pulled out all the stops, and they got the cold shoulder," Van Wilder added. 

Van Wilder also paid credit to his team leader, Evenepoel, for limiting his losses when it looked like his podium ambitions were going up in smoke as he was distanced on the Col du Soulor with around 50 kilometres to go. 

Evenepoel used his time trial prowess and the support from his teammates to pace himself throughout the stage, eventually returning to the GC group before the foot of the Hautacam climb, and ascended the mountain at his own tempo, resulting in seventh on the stage, 3:35 behind Tadej Pogačar. The Belgian now sits in third in the general classification, 4:45 behind the Slovenian and with a 49-second lead over Florian Lipowitz in fourth.

"I know Remco very well and knew he needed a steady pace. By being able to pedal at a lower wattage for a while, he regained his rhythm and ultimately his morale," said Van Wilder.

"He rode a fantastic race with the legs he had, because let's be honest: this wasn't the Remco we know," Van Wilder added. "We can really be happy with the race he rode."