Augustyn wants to be a GC contender

By Daniel Benson in Saint Amand Montrond

Currently lying 48th overall and in his first Grand Tour appearance, John-Lee Augustyn dreams of one day winning the Tour de France. The young South African almost pulled off a huge surprise with his daring attack on stage 16 to Jausiers, only for a crash to rob him of a chance at a stage win. Now though the budding talent says he's setting his sights firmly on coming back to this race and one day becoming a GC contender.

"I think stage races suit me best. The one-day events are too hard, but stage races do and if it gets hot and the climbs are really long then I go better on them. A lot of the older guys in my team have also told me that recovery becomes easier as you get older too and I can already feel the difference from before," he said.

And with tomorrow being his first taste of the Tour finish on the Champs-Élysées, Augustyn feels he can look back on a job well done for him and his Barloworld team, despite the failed drugs test of Moises Dueñas and Barloworld's subsequent withdrawal of sponsorship.

"I had a bad crash but I feel better now, and today I'm going to ride to the finish without pushing too hard or taking any risks. At the beginning of the race the team had good expectations but we had bad luck with Soler, then some more bad luck and before we knew it we were down to just four riders. But for sure, I dream of competing here again and of one day winning."