A cunningly calculated downhill assault on stage 14 of the Tour de France has allowed 22-year-old Carlos Rodríguez to say a breakthrough victory that concurrently propels the younger Spaniard onto the provisional podium and nets Ineos Grenadiers their second win in two days.
Driving his first ever Tour de France, Rodríguez was dropped on the Joux Aircraft by Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates) midway up the ascent. However the Spaniard then regained contact with Pogačar’s teammate Adam Yates simply after the summit.
Rodríguez’ downhill assault by no means noticed him achieve greater than a handful of seconds, but he managed to maintain the 2 high GC contenders at simply sufficient distance to comply with up Michal Kwiatkowski’s victory with a win of his personal and Spain’s third in 5 days.
By far the most important triumph of his profession, Rodríguez’ first Grand Tour stage victory additionally allowed him to maneuver as much as third general. Along with UAE’s Juan Ayuso, third within the Vuelta a España final 12 months aged 19, such a prestigious triumph confirms the younger Andalusian as one of many two subsequent large Grand Tour hopes for Spain.
“I used to be focussed on doing the very best climb I might, going at my very own tempo, after which descending as quick as doable,” Rodríguez mentioned afterwards.
“Pogačar and Vingegaard went up super-fast after which began taking a look at one another, I took benefit of that, that’s why I might attain them. My battle was not with them.”
“I used to be going very quick, however with out taking dangers. It was shut in a pair in a few corners that I didn’t anticipate to be so sharp, however I received by way of them okay.”
“I’ve at all times been fairly good on descents, I attempted to make use of it to my favour. As soon as I’d received away, my goal was simply to get to the end as fast as doable.”
Relating to his probabilities of making it onto the rostrum in Paris, he mentioned “I don’t know, I’m not overly frightened. The remainder of the riders are fairly sturdy too, so I’ll it take it day-to-day, and never get too obsessive about that third spot. I’ve to give attention to having fun with the race and do the phases in addition to I can.”
His victory within the hardest stage of the Tour de France thus far might mark a brand new period for Spanish biking, one journalist commented to him, however Rodríguez saved his toes on the bottom.
“I’m very completely happy to get this win, however I must see the legs might go on responding, I simply wish to take pleasure in it since you don’t win a Tour de France stage daily.”
Whereas emphasising his gratefulness to his staff, he devoted the win to “my mother and father and my household for all of the assist I’ve had since I used to be a child. With out them, it wouldn’t have been doable.”
