“I hesitated a little too long" - Matej Mohorič rues missed opportunity as he finishes 3rd on stage 9 of the Tour de France

Finishing atop one of the Tour de France's most historic and rarely ridden climbs, the Puy de Dôme, the fight for victory on stage 9 was always going to be a fierce one. Finishing 3rd, Matej Mohorič was right in the mix on a thrilling day.

"It was difficult for me against the pure climbers, but I tried," the Bahrain-Victorious rider told WielerFlits in a post-stage interview. “I wouldn't have had a chance in a direct duel against the better climbers. Only if they had stopped behind us, not working together, it would have been possible. But it is what it is. Especially the last four kilometres were beautiful.”

Heading into the final climb, Mohoric was in a group of chasers hunting down lone leader Matteo Jorgenson. If the Slovenian would've had his way however, he would have been alongside the Movistar Team rider at the front. Had he been, maybe the stage win would have been possible.

“I hesitated a little too long when he went. I was the one behind him, so I had the chance to jump with him… But when he was gone, it got very tricky," Mohoric rues. "We tried to get back with Powless and those other two guys (De la Cruz and Burgaudeau, ed.), but we couldn't. On the final climb I gave everything I had, but this was all I had. Michael Woods proved today that he was the strongest.”