While the furore around Chris Froome’s participation in the Tour de France garnered much of the pre-race media attention, many talented Dutch riders came to the race quietly, careful not to state their ambitions too openly. 

Now, looking back over the last three weeks, we can see that the 2018 Tour de France was one in which many of the new generation of Dutch riders came of age. Tom Dumoulin is already established as one of the best Grand Tour riders, yet being able to back up his second place at the Giro with second place at the Tour cements that reputation. In his style, his race was measured and consistent, and his stage victory a just reward for his contribution to the race. His conundrum for the future is how to beat Team Sky.

After his nightmarish 2016 Giro d’Italia it has taken Steven Kruijswijk time to regain his best form and confidence, and his 5th place is a career best result at the Tour de France. His partnership with team-mate Primoz Roglic worked so well because compared to Team Sky they were underdogs, and were allowed some scope to be disruptive. Kruijswijk’s heroic ride on stage 12 to L’Alpe d’Huez was a solo display that delighted all cycling fans, not just those waiting for him at Dutch Corner.

With two riders in the top ten overall and three stage wins, Dutch squad LottoNL-Jumbo had a tremendous race. The first two wins were Dylan Groenewegen’s and they were convincing. When well-positioned and on-form, Groenewegen is the fastest sprinter in the peloton. Among the big egos of cycling’s top sprinters, the twenty-five year old from Amsterdam can get overlooked by pundits. But as his calm victory celebration in Chartres showed, he has silenced everyone.

Other Dutch riders deserve a mention – Robert Gesink and Wout Poels for their riding in the service of their leaders, and in the Young Rider category LottoNL-Jumbo’s Antwan Tolhok finished 11th, confirming his promise.

We writers are always looking for a hidden pattern, some clue to the future. The 2018 Tour de France may not have had a Dutch winner, but there are enough strong performances by Dutch riders to give a hint of a new maturity in Dutch cycling. Team Sky can be beaten; will it be a Dutch man who does it?