Bardet: "This stage win is an amazing one"

Romain Bardet (Team DSM): “Honestly, I really took step by step. In the end, no one really wanted to commit to the chase in the breakaway so I had a really hard time to catch [Nicolas Prodhomme]. But I think we really played it smart with Matt [Winston], my sports director. He told me exactly when to attack, on the steepest part. I went as if the finish was 200m away. I gave it a good go, I opened a good gap and I just committed to the finish. The legs were ok I think. Everyone is a bit tired I think, but at the moment, the spirit is great in the team. Wee have three stage wins, multiple podiums with Alberto [Dainese]. I’m so happy  to be part of such a group. We try to do our best everyday and this stage win is an amazing one. It’s been a long wait [since my last Grand Tour victory, in 2017]. I didn’t think about it today, I just focused on giving it my all. It went well from the start. I knew that I would have the polka-dot jersey even if I didn’t win.”