Victor Lafay disappointed to not get result after following Pogacar and Vingegaard attack: "It's a shame to have legs like that and not to materialize"

Victor Lafay has been rising up the cycling world in recent years and his talent in the short climbs has been shown to the entire world yesterday, as he was the only rider to respond to the attack of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Still, he was disappointed not to bring a result at the end of the day.

"I was great, but it's a shame Vingegaard didn't follow when the Yates left, I think he was waiting for Wout. I'm downright disappointed because it's clear I had the legs to be in front and play for the win," Lafay said in a post-race interview. With Julian Alaphilippe cracking early in the climb the hopes of the French fans layed on Lafay, who resisted the early acceleration as a big surprise, and then himself hit the front before the summit as he tried to go solo off the front.

He was followed by the duo however, and then caught by a chasing group. There the stage was decided, as Adam and Simon Yates attacked towards victory. The Frenchman tried to bridge across but was again covered and ended up finishing sixth on the day, still a strong result but not being able to bring in a win that would make Cofidis' race. "You also have to be the smartest and I was not the smartest," he admits.

"I knew I was in good shape, I felt on Thursday (during a recon ride, ed.) that it was going really well, and I told the guys today that I was on a cushion. It's a shame to have legs like that and not to materialize," he concluded. Nevertheless the form Lafay is showing, and taking into consideration he shouldn't fight for the overall classification, it is a good sign towards his hopes of winning a stage throughout the race.