"In the end, we got really close" - Mauro Schmid wins bunch sprint for third but can't catch Landa & Vingegaard at Itzulia Basque Country

When Mikel Landa and Jonas Vingegaard crest the final climb of stage four of the Itzulia Basque Country it looked like an unassailable lead. A brilliant effort from Soudal - Quick-Step saw the bunch come within seconds of a catch, agonising for Mauro Schmid.

“We saw them all the time about twenty seconds ahead of us. Then James did a perfect final header. He reduced the gap to ten seconds," Schmid said in a post-race interview. "Then Mattia took over, until about 500 meters from the finish. In the end, we got really close. That's why I'm quite disappointed. We missed a great opportunity. But we can be proud of what we have achieved as a team."

Despite having come so close, Schmid isn't getting too down. "When we started the last climb of the day, I wasn't really in an ideal position," he explains. “The guys have done their best to get me back to the front, but it is quite difficult. I decided to just ride up at my own pace. I also had a really hard time on the steep sections. Once at the top, I felt a little better. I'm glad Mattia Cattaneo and James Knox were still there. They went full steam ahead in the descent, hoping to catch up with the two front runners."

“They rode really strong. We did everything we could, but to no avail," Schmid concludes full of praise for the leading duo. "I think we don't have to regret anything."