Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) has delivered its best performance in the mountains since the departure of The return By taking 2nd place in the 9th stage, behind Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | lease a bike). This result allows him to go back to 4th place in the general classification, to 1'35 '' of the red jersey Torstein Traeen (Bahrain Victorious). The most memorable moment of the stage occurred after arrival. Asked about what shouted JOAO ALMEIDA (UAE Team Emirates XRG) in the pursuit of Awesome, Pidcock The smile: “He told me to grow balls. But if he was rolling a little slower, I could give him more relays …”
“Jonas is Jonas …”
Despite muscular exchanges, the Briton was able to remain concentrated and ahead of Almeida in the sprint for 2nd place, 24 seconds of Awesome. “Jonas is Jonas: you should never leave him space”he explained. “I thought that Almeida was a perfect wheel to follow, maybe we could come back. But hat, I couldn't give him a relay. He is like a tractor, especially in the rolling sections. And in the last kilometer, when he relaunched, it was impressive. I barely managed to go to the sprint.”
The Briton, who still fully discovers his potential in general classification, is confident for the next steps. “I don't really know what my abilities are. Sometimes I'm a little careful, but this step gives me confidence for the hardest passages to come. I am happy, honestly.” Pidcockwhile remaining realistic, asserts itself more and more as an outsider to monitor on this Vuelta. “These guys made sprints in full climb, and I told myself that one day it was going to turn against them. But there are still a lot of steps, I do not draw too hasty conclusions.”
