"Strict, I think. You need to have everything in the right perspective. We won with Benoot yet in a brilliant way the Strade Bianche. Rides in the Giro and the Vuelta with Wellens and Wallays. The European tijdrittitel with Campenaerts. Bergtruien in Paris-Nice and Vuelta with De Gendt, who had two WorldTourzeges added. And then we played Greipel for another two months lost due to injury. For the Crystal Bike we counted no less than four nominees, including the winner. And if you are also our successes in the Ruta del Sol, Tour of Belgium and Tour of Wallonia fee to the new global team classification (situated in the reform of the UCI, henceforth, in all races – not only WorldTour points to be scored, eds.), you will notice that it is still so bad."
26 victories, of which 7 are in the WorldTour. Only: between the ritsucces of Wellens in the Giro (may 8) and Wallays in the Vuelta (13 september)..."...is a large 'hole', I know. You can really speak about a successful season if you are also in the Tour de France have served. There was, unfortunately, completely wrong. In the run-up already. Dauphiné. Switzerland. BK. And then you are suddenly, at the end of July, in Paris, and set you: ‘Dju, we have nothing won.’ The Tour affects inevitably the perception. I remember that Rabobank in the classic spring of 2000, no leg to the ground. Totáál invisible, ruthless criticism. But after the three stage wins of Erik Dekker in the Tour and his victory in San Sebastián sounded suddenly different. "Gosh, that men have quite a year, eh.'"
Was the long-standing dispute between André Greipel and the former CEO of the team, Paul De Geyter, on the basis of that weak Tour?"Yes. I wanted that ‘obstacle’, even before the start out of the way. The contract extension of Greipel had a turning point and a good Tour. Instead, he announced halfway through his departure. To the disbelief and bewilderment of everyone. ‘How can that be? Why if we fail to André?’ It weighed heavy on the team, on the internal atmosphere, and so inevitably on the performance. The voltage is increased, the cups were. The moment when you realize, ‘Ok, ’t is passed here.’ Weird. Technically they were all in order, but suddenly found there is nothing more of back."