Castroviejo given a chance and almost nets first career non time-trial win - "I am a little mad"

Jonathan Castroviejo is 35 years old and has been one of Spain's most successful riders of the last generation. A natural time-trialist, he's taken ten pro wins in his career, however on a road race he was close to getting his first one today at the Tour de France in surprising circumstances.

“I am a little mad, because there are not that many opportunities to get into a breakaway," the Spaniard said at the finish. He and Dylan van Baarle were active early in the day to put on the pressure and serve as a possible bridge for one of INEOS Grenadiers' leaders to bridge across, however with the GC on a stalemate, Castroviejo had the opportunity to go for a result of his own.

He did not, as all other riders in the group, respond to Bob Jungels' attack on the Col de la Croix, and he also didn't have the legs to initially respond to Thibaut Pinot at Pas de Morgins. However, having the legs and partnering up with compatriot Carlos Verona, the two cut the gap to the men in front and ended up fighting for the second place on the day.

Castroviejo won that battle, however a disappointing result as it was very close to a career-best. “It was a shame, Jungels attacked and he gained a lot of time real fast, and I had good legs to win today, and I am a bit angry about that. That was the plan to get into the break to try to win the stage. We know that Pogacar is very strong, we have three guys for the GC, so if we can get into the break and try to win a stage, but that’s not so easy either. I am happy with how I rode," he detailed.

“The first week was a lot of work for me, riding in the wind to protect the leaders, but you feel that as well when you arrive to the mountain, but I felt pretty good today and with the heat. We’ll keep trying with what lies ahead," Castroviejo concluded.