"I know what's in the legs" - Dan McLay hoping for Vuelta a Espana stage win after strong opening weekend

Dan McLay has been a positive surpsise in the opening days of the Vuelta a Espana, putting in strong performances in the sprints for Arkéa Samsic and giving the team a new leader and focus towards the rest of the race.

After a sixth place in the opening sprint, McLay was an outsider for the sprint in Breda, and had a good run-up to the finish. “I was well dropped off by the team, especially Clément Russo. He accelerated and gave me speed. I just sprinted after that," he described. McLay jumped off the wheel of Pascal Ackermann to go head to head with Sam Bennett for several seconds, but couldn't hold the pace in the final meters. "Maybe I was in the headwind a little too long, but I gave it my all. I just missed that bit to win," the Briton said.

A third place behind Bennett and Mads Pedersen was a strong result, and he was asked if he was surprised by his performance. "Not really. I know what's in the legs," he replied. "I've ridden for others almost all year, but I know what I can do. So it's not a big surprise. Today almost everything fell into place, but I just missed that little bit…"

"If you get the chance, take it. That also applies to us as a team for the next three weeks. Whether it is a sprint or a breakaway," McLay pointed out. Despite starting the race without their leader Nairo Quintana and with only seven riders, the French squad managed to be very present near the head of the peloton, and the 30-year old has been the headliner of the team so far.

However he was nevertheless asked about his Colombian teammate, who did not start the race so as to defend his case. “It has changed our tactics and it is disappointing. But we don't know much. We remain positive and try to seize every opportunity," he said.

"It certainly gives us more freedom. We may not have been able to win, but we will continue to race without pressure and want to get the best out of it. I hope there is more in it," McLay concluded. There will only be one stage - the final day in Madrid - that will be as flat as the previous days, however McLay will hope for a good climbing performance so that he finds himself in a good position for the upcoming punchy sprints.