"I had really sh*t legs! It was one of the longest kilometres of my life" - Tibor del Grosso denied first pro win in thrilling opening stage at Volta a Catalunya 2025
Cycling
Tibor del Grosso came so close to the win on stage 1 of the 2025 Volta a Catalunya on Monday afternoon. Despite entering the final kilometre solo however, the Alpecin-Deceuninck star was reeled in right at the line by Team Visma | Lease a Bike's 19-year-old super-talent, Matthew Brennan.
After attacking on the final descent towards the line, Del Grosso seemed to have the win all sewn up as he passed the Flamme Rouge with clear daylight between himself and the chasing Brennan. As the 21-year-old Dutchman began to tie up though, Brennan continued to put the power down, resulting in an incredibly dramatic finale that saw both Del Grosso and teammate Kaden Groves denied by the British teenager.
"It was really close and that makes it quite bitter," admits Del Grosso in his post-stage interview with Eurosport from right after the line. "But it also wasn't really the plan and I didn't really feel that good at all. I didn't feel like I was going that fast downhill, but then the boys shouted to me that I needed to go. I tried, but yeah..." he smiles.
"I think I had quite a big gap going into the last kilometre, but I had really shit legs! It was one of the longest kilometres of my life," Del Grosso concludes with a laugh. "I just couldn't go any faster. Maybe I should have gone full gas on the descent a little earlier and yeah, maybe I could have had those two seconds more at the bottom."
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- The simple fact that we have a champion like Tadej looking to break down the barrier of what's been the cycling norm for the last 35-40 years is something that should be applaudedslappers6627-03-2025
- Also, plenty of these dubious characters are actually still very much involved in current teams but nobody seems to care much that they accompany some of the most popular riders.Mistermaumau27-03-2025
- I understand but then again, it’s free and apart from a tsunami of ads, doesn’t hold you hostage to subscribe or share data, not many others offer a quick broad overview like that. If you have time to read everything in-depth you can do the rounds yourself or subscribe to quality material, nothing stops you paying to filter undesired content.Mistermaumau27-03-2025
- It's unlikely he can win, but he'll definitely have fun! Tadej loves and enjoys cycling: his passion, not just his job. Most important thing: he's NOT AFRAID OF LOSING. Other top riders only race if they can win (terror of losing, fragile egos). I adore you Tadej. Stay safe.
maria2024202427-03-2025 - Agreed but kind of off this comes from DGMistermaumau27-03-2025
- He should be pretty capable on technical terrain. His cyclocross bike handling skills are elite, and that is not easy. I do agree he needs some time back on his mtb, as it is a bit different, but if he focuses well on that xco title goal, he can reach it no doubt.JoshuaCharter27-03-2025
- I saw the ending, the riders were all over the place trying to move up. It was only a matter of time till somebody crashed.abstractengineer27-03-2025
- My issue is that this site proactively solicits the commentary of one disgraced doper after another. It's like they can't find anyone who didn't leave the sport under a cloud of shame. I think I'm done with this site.critguy26-03-2025
- The finale of this race was an absolute mess, and the last crash that took out 1/2 of the field was caused when a double width road very suddenly funneled into a single lane, and riders had nowhere to go. I find it amazing how some of these courses get approved in the first place. So much for the UCI's campaign for improved rider safety, because if they actually cared, the organizers wouldn't have been allowed to run the finale on this parcours.
santiagobenites26-03-2025 - I hope Wout can come back. He has had 3 terrible crashes--not on par with Froome or Bernal, but at his level just a fraction of a percent is all that separates the grand champions of this new generation. Even if he is back all the way physically, those abrupt confrontations with pavement and mortality take a psychic toll, especially for a father of young kids.
Barney26-03-2025