Michel Hessmann reveals Jumbo-Visma's tactics behind joining today's breakaway: "If necessary, we could drop back to Primoz"

Michel Hessmann and Sepp Kuss of Jumbo-Visma, quite unexpectedly jumped into today's large breakaway. Eventually neither of them joined the decisive move with nearly 100 km to go and the team had to accept marginal gains in form of 9th place in stage for Hessmann and Kuss moving up to 20th in GC.

"The idea behind it was that if something happened in the peloton, we would be two riders up front. If necessary, we could drop back to Primoz. The descent of the last climb was treacherous, so we took the safe route," Hessmann explains why he and Sepp Kuss joined today's breakaway.

"This is my first grand tour, and everything is going better than expected. Partly because of the conditions, the last 12 days have been tough. But I feel good, and I am recovering well every day. That way, I can enjoy it a bit," Hessmann concluded.

Sports director Marc Reef confirms that Primoz Roglic is well and ready to fight for pink jersey in remaining stages: "We knew it would be a day for escapees. Sepp and Michel were allowed to go their own way, but they were also pawns in case something happened to Primoz. Fortunately, everyone made it to the finish in one piece. A tough mountain stage is on the agenda for tomorrow. Primoz is fine. He showed that again today with the way he rode in the peloton. Yesterday's crash did not cause him any problems. He is ready for tomorrow's stage."