"I was in the wheel of winner, but I no longer had the strength to really sprint" - Edward Theuns finishes third despite being held back by crash

Edward Theuns managed to achieve third place for the second time this Vuelta. Just like in the first bunch sprint of this Grand Tour, the Belgian also crossed the finish line in third place in stage seven. At the end of the stage, the Lidl-Trek rider gives his story of the final.

"It was very hectic," Theuns summarizes his final to Eurosport. "When people fell in the final, I completely stopped. So it took a lot of power to get back to the front." Nevertheless, the Belgian got into a good position, after he ended up behind a crash.

"But the guys then did a good job of putting me back in position. I was also in a really good position, in the winner's wheel." Theuns was therefore in the last straight line behind Geoffrey Soupe, the surprising stage winner. "But I no longer had the strength to really sprint."

All in all, Theuns concluded that it was another good day for him and his team. "But a pity that I was at the limit. In the final we stayed relaxed, in the second part, because we wanted to come late. But that put us just behind the trap. Too bad that happened, but in the end I was well positioned. Only then I should have wasted too much energy."