Manuel Peñalver: "The tears are for not having been able to bring the victory to my people"

Burgos BH's Manuel Peñalver has set up his career as a decent sprinter but he's had a breakthrough result today, but despite that the Torrevieja native has mixed emotions regarding his result at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana.

"I knew the finale, the team trusted in me and although I have not been able to get the win, that we have been searching and caressing for a long time, the truth is that with this level this result matters a lot," Peñalver said after an emotional finale where he was visibly upset at just barely missing the win, and later being received by a crowd of fans near the Burgos bus.

Racing on home roads isn't frequent for a professional cyclist but it was the case for Peñalver today, and having that motivation propelled him into a result that many did not believe it was possible. The 23-year old directly beat the likes of Fabio Jakobsen, Alexander Kristoff and Elia Viviani who are heavily successful sprinters, and despite the painful feelings he's had for not getting the win, he has taken something from it.

"The reception has been amazing and the tears are for not having been able to bring the victory to my people. It is anger that I hope to turn into results. Staying ahead of enormous rivals demonstrates that we're working well and we deserved this result. Winning at home you can only do once, although today it is bitter to me it almost feels like a victory".

Although it is a very complicated task, the Spanish sprinter has another opportunity to succeed tomorrow as the peloton heads to Valencia for the final stage.