"We did a good job for him" - Pello Bilbao trusts Santiago Buitrago for Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes general classification
Cycling
Bahrain Victorious delivered a solid team time trial at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 [the new name of the Dauphiné]. The squad executed a flawless plan designed to protect Santiago Buitrago’s general classification ambitions.
After the stage, Pello Bilbao highlighted the team’s collective work and the tactical discipline that allowed them to maximise a course which, he admitted, did not particularly suit their strengths. The Basque rider was pleased with both the outcome and the way the day unfolded.
“Yes, happy with the execution of the plan, for sure. We knew this wasn’t a perfect course for our characteristics, but I think we did very well. We stuck strictly to the plan and I think we did a good job for Santiago Buitrago,” he told Cycling Pro Net.
A measured strategy from the start
Bahrain Victorious featured among the best at the early time checks, a notable detail given the mix of rider profiles within the squad. Bilbao explained it all stemmed from a carefully studied strategy.
“Our pacing strategy was not to overdo it on the steeper parts, so we started a bit steadier, considering we had some big fast men in the group and we needed them for the flatter section and the mid-race descent.”
The key was to manage efforts, play to each rider’s strengths, and bring the key men into the decisive section in the best condition.
Buitrago sets the tempo
Once through the middle of the course, the team switched approach and tightened the screw on the second climb, where Santiago Buitrago took centre stage.
“And then on the second climb we went all-in, especially Santi. He’s got incredible legs, he set a really hard pace.”
The Colombian’s work thinned the group and set up the finale Bahrain had mapped out during the course reconnaissance. Bilbao explained that the plan was to hit the final descent with a reduced group and launch Buitrago in the last metres as if it were a bunch sprint.
Pello Bilbao, ciclista de Bahrain Victorious.
A perfect lead-out for the leader
“And then the plan was to go in with four on the last descent and lead out full gas into the final corner.”
The move came off exactly as drawn up, allowing the Colombian to make the most of his punch on the final rise: “Yes, we felt it was a sprint stage for Santi.”
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Bilbao’s comments reflect the satisfaction within Bahrain Victorious which, beyond the final result, found in the team time trial confirmation that coordination and planning can make the difference in a discipline where every detail counts. With Buitrago well placed and the team executing the plan, the Bahrain outfit leaves one of the race’s most technical days strengthened.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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