Maxim van Gils happy with victory but disappointed to miss out on key racing at Vuelta a Andalucia: "It's a shame that the other stages have now been cancelled"

Maxim van Gils has put in the ride of his career this afternoon at the Vuelta a Andalucia. The Lotto Dstny rider won the one stage that was left of the Spanish race, winning the small time-trial in impressive fashion.

“First and foremost, I didn't want to lose too much time, considering the stage tomorrow. During the reconnaissance I learned that the stage would not take place tomorrow, which was of course not nice news," van Gils said in a post-race interview. "But I was motivated to give everything and such a short time trial uphill suits me."

It was only a 4.9-kilometer time-trial for the riders who made the trip to Spain. With no time-trial bikes and uphill gradients it was set to be an open one. However, he was the unexpected winner - and dominator - of the day. "I immediately felt that I had good legs, but I never expected to win.”

“I also immediately rode to the bus, then I heard that I had won and had to go to the podium, so that was great, it is still the Ruta del Sol," he added. "I felt good after the altitude training camp in Teide, it's a shame that the other stages have now been cancelled. This was actually comparable to a ten-minute test on stage. It's a good sign that I was able to win and it gives me confidence for the next races.”