Carlos Rodriguez, the best of the mortals at the Tour de France, does not rule out the podium: "We will do everything possible"

After the world's 3 best climbers (Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel), Carlos Rodriguez was the first to finish today's first high mountain stage in the Pyrenees in the Tour de France 2024.

The rider from Granada is fifth overall at the moment and is very close to Joao Almeida, whom he should pass because he is working for Tadej Pogacar. Then, the INEOS Grenadiers leader is far from the podium, about 4 minutes away, but does not rule out fighting for it against a Remco who you never know if he can fail.

"At least we're close, with a good feeling, good work from the whole team keeping me ahead, I hope to keep getting closer little by little. Four minutes is a long time if you start timing, we will try to do the best we can between now and Nice to try to cut as much time as we can," he said in a press release.

On the other hand, if he has to finish fourth at the end of the Tour because the others have been better, he doesn't care. What he does care about is that, as happened with his teammate Tom Pidcock yesterday, there will be no more withdrawals.

"We must continue to be ahead, staying the best we can, I hope that the overall results will also improve as the stages go by."

"The truth is that if I arrive here in Nice being fourth and they have been fourth, I will be happy if I arrive with a good feeling, happy to have given everything."

"We have to give everything to get to the finish line, because time is not a gift. Tomorrow will be a very important stage. I hope that if I win places it will be for my legs and not for my health."

Article written by Juan Larra.