"I simply couldn't do anything about it" - Derek Gee hopes to get back at the explosive Del Toro in high mountains
Cycling
Derek Gee's position in general classification is looking better and better with each stage, even if he lost a bit of time to the men on podium in the finale of stage 17. But nothing is set in stone before the massive climbing stages on Friday and Saturday, where the standings can be completely shaken up. And the Canadian seems to be on the right track in the third week.
But today's last classified climb was not to the taste of the Israel - Premier Tech leader who could only stare with his mouth wide open as Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz left their fellow GC contenders in the dust. "I saw them go, but I simply couldn't do anything about it," Gee confessed after the finish via team media channels. "They were so explosive in the last few hundred meters of that climb."
"They got a gap and there was no time to close it," said Gee, who finished 16 seconds behind and thus his gap to Del Toro grows to almost two minutes. But it's not a loss that would have the 28-year-old worried. "It was only natural that they would look at me and Simon Yates, although we are more into longer efforts. This was more of a sprint uphill and I have to give them credit for that."
"It was quite a selective day with the Mortirolo in the middle, but in the end it also paid off to have teammates up front because there was still so much valley behind," the Canadian analyses. "We had Hugo Houle up front and that helped a lot, but Visma | Lease a Bike also dropped quite a few men.
"Del Toro and Carapaz then separated it and that was impressive," repeated Gee, who still rates Del Toro highly. "He is also a super explosive rider, so that last climb just suited him very well. We will see what the coming days will bring, although I hope that Thursday will be a quieter day," concluded Gee.
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We're one day closer to Rome and @DerekGee7 continues to impress in the GC battle!
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) May 28, 2025
He crossed the line in 6th place on stage 17 to remain 4th on GC after another strong day of racing with support from the whole team, especially Hugo Houle in the breakaway.
Hear from Derek at… pic.twitter.com/BXergIpwAy
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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