"I wanted to win, but Pablo has played his cards very well" - Marc Soler full of praise for compatriot Castrillo after stage 12 of La Vuelta 2024

Another close call for Marc Soler has come at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana on stage 12. The UAE Team Emirates rider saw compatriot Pablo Castrillo be the strongest of the breakaway on Thursday afternoon.

Soler took third place while Castrillo went for the win with 10 kilometres to go (although his plan was to do it with 7 kilometres to go). In immediate statements at the end of the stage, the more experienced Spaniard explains why he lost the victory he is still looking forward to. "I wanted to win, but Pablo has played his cards very well and has been the strongest," admits Soler honestly.

The day began in a very sad way for Spanish cycling and for Castrillo's Equipo Kern Pharma team, as the news of the death of Manolo Azcona, former president of the team, was announced. He was also the founder of the Galibier Sports Association, through which Marc Soler himself passed, and who has therefore also been affected by the news.

"It's emotional (that Castrillo won). We congratulate them and for our part keep fighting to get the victory. To do this, we have to keep getting into the breakaways, which are very expensive, try to finish it off and take advantage of it," concludes the UAE Team Emirates rider.