"I had the legs to win" - Mixed emotions for Fernando Gaviria after 2nd place on stage 3 of 2024 Tour de France

The best result in recent times came for Fernando Gaviria on the third stage of the 2024 Tour de France. The Movistar Team sprinter, who was not among the favourites to win, took 2nd place in the first bunch sprint finish of this year's edition of the race.

The Colombian was in the end, a bike length away from the victory that went to Biniam Girmay, who made history for African cycling. Even so, a 2nd place is very creditable considering Movistar Team's need for UCI points for the and the low hopes that were initially placed on Gaviria heading into the Tour de France after a underwhelming Giro d'Italia.

"I didn't show anything because I had the legs to win but well, we tried. The team was up to the task, a pity not to get the victory," reflected the Colombian, who has twice previously tasted stage victory at the Tour de France, in his post-stage interview.

Except for a few kilometers in the last third of the day, the entire stage was led by the peloton, so the positioning and work of Fernando Gaviria's teammates in Movistar Team, Nelson Oliveira and Alex Aranburu, was key for the Colombian to reach the final straight well placed. "I'm happy with the work, I think the team helped me a lot. To see teammates like Nelson (Oliveira) and Alex (Aranburu) there in front of me supporting me and being with me is very important because in the end you see that here it's 90 kg rivals who touch you, and not 50 kg climbers."

Finally, Gaviria was asked if after this result he saw himself winning a stage in the remainder of the Tour de France: "Hopefully yes. You never know but there are many stages ahead. It's difficult because all the sprints are different. Today you can be 2nd, in the next one you can feel better legs and be 20th. So it's very complex to know how each day will unfold, but we hope to be there." Still, let's hope first to be able to pass tomorrow's time limit," he explains in reference to the first mountain stage of the Tour, where the climb of the mythical Col du Galibier will take place.