Alejandro achieves a great result in the first mountains
Alejandro achieves a great result in the first mountains
3rd at the finish in Ax 3 Domaines and 3rd overall
Alejandro achieved a big result in the fisrt mountain stage in the Pyrenees (205 kilometres between Castres and Ax 3 Domaines with the Col de Pailhères to climb before the final ascension), was obviously satisfied with the result he got at the top of Ax 3 Domaines. The Spaniard finished 1’08’’ behind Chris Froome, who won the stage and is also the new leader of the race.
“When Froome went away, I chose to ride on my own pace – I knew it was better for me”, explained Alejandro after he crossed the finishing line. “I was already at 190bpm before the attack, so that meant I had energy to keep going, because it wasn’t easy to keep that effort for a long time. I told Nairo to attack into the Pailhères because I saw him doing well and knew that he would make the Sky work harder – he proved to be really strong. There’s still a long way to go in the Tour and we’re close, so we can’t rule out anything. There’s still a lot to be won or lost.
Tomorrow’s stage will be different to today one, because it’s not a mountain-top finish – while being a really hard day, it finished at the bottom of the valley after the last port. The important thing from this very moment is recovering and tackling tomorrow’s stage at 100%. Froome is superior at this moment, really difficult to beat, but the Tour is a long race. I’m happy to be sitting in 3rd place, into the provisional podium, with such strong riders behind.”
Sunday will mark the second, last Pyrenean stage: 169km between Saint-Girons and Bagnères-de-Bigorre with the ascents of Portet d’Aspet (Cat-2), Menté (Cat-1), Peyresourde (Cat-1), Val Louron (Cat-1) and the Hourquette d’Ancizan (Cat-1), just 30k from the finish.
(Press release Movistar Team)