INTERVIEW | "You always hope to win, but on a stage like this — top 10... I’m pleased" - Samuel Watson impresses in first ever Tour de France stage

INEOS Grenadiers' Samuel Watson is having a hell of a week. After claiming the British national road title last week, the Brit was a surprise call-up to the 2025 Tour de France, and in his first ever Grand Tour stage, Watson has picked up a very creditable top-10 finish.

At the line, the newly-crowned British champion gave his immediate reaction to CyclingUpToDate. "I mean, it was obviously super stressful — very nervous in the bunch," admitted Watson, having been part of an elite 30+ rider lead group to reach the final sprint for the line. "Maybe on TV it looks easy on those climbs, but we were all across the road. They were hard climbs, and then when it went in the wind as well... yeah, it wasn’t easy."

All in all, a very tough opening to Watson's Grand Tour career, but as already mentioned, one that he impressed in. "I was pushing — it was hard — but to be honest, I’m pretty happy with how I felt today. Especially after the Nationals, where I didn’t know how I was coming in," he analyses. "I had some days off, so yeah, I was pleasantly surprised."

Still though, that winning mentality comes through, as despite a top-10 in his first ever Grand Tour stage, Watson feels like he could have achieved more. "You always hope for more, you always hope to win, but on a stage like this — a sprint stage — top 10... I’m going to be pleased with that," he concludes.