"I've broken numerous power records this Vuelta" - Tom Pidcock stays on the podium after 'unforgiving' Angliru

Tom Pidcock's overall classification at the Vuelta a Espana continues, and as the race goes through its hardest climb, he remains on the podium. On the Alto de l'Angliru the Briton had some difficulties, but the time loss to his direct rivals was not dramatic and he remains very much in sight of the best possible outcome.

"It was a hard climb, super tough. It was finding the rhythm there, unforgiving... I was at the start I was ok but I knew I couldn't continue that pace all the way to the top," Pidcock said in a post-race interview. Despite the very dramatic collective difference against Visma and UAE, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team showed courage by taking the lead of the peloton on the Alto La Mozqueta. This was the first high mountain stage of the race, and so it was not certain that Pidcock, despite his great form, would be able to thrive as he did in Valdezcaray and Bilbao.

But at the summit of the Alto de l'Angliru, he was quite happy with his performance. "Everyone slowed down, I think I only lost 1 minute or something. But I just tried doing my own pace, you're fighting all the way up". At the end of the day, a 7th spot on the day.

For a climb of this length and steepness, it was a strong ride into a day that could've spelled disaster for the Briton's GC chances. He was asked about his main podium contenders, as we see Jai Hindley and Felix Gall stand out from the rest. "It's a little bit of an anomaly, but there's still tough stuff to come. Hindley is obviously strong, Gall is strong in these longer climbs. This course tells us something".

On his feelings regarding the time gaps, he added: "Not bad, I didn't lose too much time, but I would like to be at the front, but have to be realistic. Definitely I think I put in a good effort knowing how long it was. I've broken numerous power records this Vuelta".

"Dylan (van Baarle of Visma, ed.) was making everyone's legs hurt today, with the tailwind. It was a hard day. I'm recovering pretty well, it's getting late into the race so it's taking its toll".