Robert Gesink not "the happiest man on the earth right now" after just missing out on career-defining win

Ever since Primoz Roglic abandoned the Vuelta a Espana, Jumbo-Visma have found themselves in a position when they could only fight for stage wins. The 18th day proved to be a good one, and Robert Gesink put in his best performance in years, but his effort fell just short of a career-changing stage win.

“I was happy to be in the break … but not so happy after that. You win some you lose some. I was happy with a good reset for the team, we set our mindset, we came here to win with Primož," Gesink said in a post-race interview. "Yesterday was a tough day and we showed today we have nice legs to do something nice with him as a team. But unfortunately, it was a great day until 200 meters to go.”

The Dutchman found himself in the breakaway group which included almost four dozen riders, and had the legs to be in the move of six that went clear in the first ascent of the Alto del Piornal. Gesink was not initially a favourite, and it also came as a surprise as he was the only one to jump across to Élie Gesbert in the final ascent. The Dutchman went solo off the front with just over six kilometers to go, an attack that seemed more and more likely to succeed as he approached the finish and the stop-start motion in the GC group wasn't effectively bringing down the gap.

“I never looked back, until one minute I looked back and saw a front wheel coming. Then I knew it was going to be really difficult,” the Jumbo-Visma rider said. He was caught inside the final kilometer as Enric Mas attempted to distance Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian later outsprinted his two rivals to take the stage win. “But I did make it in the winner’s picture so that’s quite nice," Gesink continued. 

“Three years ago I changed my style of riding and training to support our GC men, and to change back I wasn’t sure I can do it. So I’m quite happy I can change back and ride for myself once again,” Gesink told reporters. He had already worn the red jersey earlier in the race which proved to be a very important achievement in his career, but a stage win this late into his career would have been one even bigger.

“Unfortunately there were two better today, that was tough to see but its kind of nice to ride for victory for myself again. But I’m not going to say I’m the happiest man on the earth right now," he concluded.