“It was a real pity because we had the race under controller the whole stage and then we ruined our own chances in the last straight. I heard Christophe [Laporte] behind me so I thought we were all there. I did a quick launch but then only when I swung off I could see Matty [Brennan] was not on the wheel. It’s a big shame, but that’s how it goes sometimes. It was chaotic, we lost each other, and there was no chance like this.
I think we start to get tired, that may be one reason [for the crashes]. With Tadej [Pogacar] crashing out, it’s a big loss for the race, and something we rarely saw from him. I hope he will recover well. We will miss him in the race.
Just before that crash, I took more points in the intermediate sprint. I was ready to fight against him and others until Granada. Now, with him out of that battle, it will be different.”
