BILBAO 3RD ON TOUR DE FRANCE QUEEN STAGE
|
Pello Bilbao put in another impressive display at the Tour de France, finishing third on a brutal day which saw the peloton tackle over 5,300 vertical meters and the infamous Col de la Loze before the finish into Courchevel.
|
| The battle for top 10 in the GC was pulled apart when a breakaway of over 30 riders formed, including Jack Haig and Pello Bilbao from Bahrain Victorious. With the gap steadily growing, Bilbao and Yates (Jayco AlUla) looked to profit against the other contenders around them in the GC back in the chasing group. Haig put in an almighty effort doing most of the work to widen the gap to the peloton behind. |
|
|
At 13 km to go, the break split and Bilbao started to lose the wheel to Simon Yates and the day’s stage winner, Gall (AG2R Citroen). Bilbao kept a steady pace, and when the yellow jersey, Vingegard, caught him, he followed him before pipping him to the line to claim third behind Simon Yates.
|
| Bilbao was delighted with his performance and the team’s work which moves him up to 6th in GC and 31″ behind Simon Yates in 5th: “A tough day, especially the last climb. When you see that it’s still 28km to the top, it’s hard to be a cyclist in conditions like this. But I tried my best, and I’m so proud of the team, especially with Jack. He was impressive today. He deserved to win today’s stage, but in the end, with cyclists in the overall still in the game, we needed to try to make our best and try and jump some positions. It was a great day, thanks to Jack and all the team. |
In the battle for the GC, Bilbao commented: “I think it’s going to be difficult because just the stage on Saturday maybe is the last opportunity. But usually, we know the last days are more blocked, and riders try to defend their positions more than going to attack, so I don’t know, it’s going to be difficult, but if we have the legs, we will try.”
|
|
|
| Meanwhile, Phil Bauhaus abandoned the race. The German sprinter commented: “It’s hard to take, I tried my best, and I really put effort to make the time cuts over the past few stages. Today I was empty, it was full gas from the start, and I was alone. I tried, but as the time gap widened, catching the grupetto and making the time cut would be impossible. |
| It’s sad not to make it to Paris, celebrate this with my teammates, and finish the Tour de France as a rider. It’s been a crazy Tour and full gas from the start on nearly every stage. I can leave knowing I tried my best to give everything, and today was just a step too far. |
Next year it won’t finish in Paris, but I hope to return and get the opportunity again to finish the Tour in Paris.”
|
|
|
| © Photo Sprintcycling ©TeamBahrainVictorious) |
|
