"This is really a turning point in my career" - Bruno Armirail upbeat despite losing pink jersey at Giro d'Italia

Bruno Armirail has had the most shocking twist to the Giro d'Italia perhaps, when on stage 14 he cancelled the 18-minute deficit he had at the start of the day and jumped into the lead of the overall classification. After two days in pink he lost the jersey at Monte Bondone, but recalls the experience very fondly.

“It was a very, very difficult day. My teammates did a really great job. I tried to catch up as long as possible, but with ten kilometers to go I couldn't follow," Armirail said in a post-race interview. Groupama - FDJ remained intact in the peloton and assisted Jumbo-Visma with the chasing early in the day, and Armirail himself showed good legs until the final ascent, consistently remaining near the head of the peloton despite the high pace.

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He hung on to the GC group until UAE Team Emirates began to push the pace on the final ascent, as expected losing the jersey but remaining inside the Top10 with an impressive ride. “However, I am happy and proud, because the group then consisted of only twenty riders. And those were top notch too. It's nice to perform so well. I really gave everything to the finish. It's the pink jersey, you just have to pull yourself completely apart."

"I can look back on three great days and two incredibly beautiful stages. This is really a turning point in my career. I certainly enjoyed it, but the Giro is not over yet. There are still great stages to come," the Frenchman concluded. He lost 4:24 to stage winner João Almeida and now sits 7th in the overall classification, 3:22 minutes down on Geraint Thomas into stage 17.

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