"We were super happy because there were a lot of boxes to tick" - Tao Geoghegan Hart thrilled with Algarve performance, as injury seems to be healed properly

Tao Geoghegan Hart has suffered a broken pelvis in a crash at the Giro d'Italia last year. Such injuries can often end the career of pro cyclists and Tao Geoghegan Hart knew of this. Hence, the Top10 result at the Volta ao Algarve last afternoon was very significant.

“Maybe I’m cross with myself a little bit because I hesitated with the first go, and I was there. Sometimes one or two wheels make such a difference because you’re left closing a metre here and there," Hart said in words to GCN at the summit of Fóia. "I just missed a little bit in the final 500 to 200 metres to have the gas to really go but it was a really nice job by the team all day, and I was just really happy to make the final and be good until the last 500 meters."

Hart leads Lidl-Trek in the Portuguese race and finished seventh in the summit finish to the Alto da Fóia. It was a tough finale, and he finished alongside the likes of Sepp Kuss and Tom Pidcock. This result was a confirmation of a successful recovery from the injury. “I told you already back in December that there were no expectations or way to know."

"The training has been good, really good, and better than I expected but in terms of racing you never know how it’s going to transfer. Yesterday I could tell that I would be all right, and I was feeling good. Normally on a stage like that, the first day of the year, it’s hard but I’m happy and I’ll try and have a good rest of the week. I think that the TT will be hard for me, to be honest, but this was already a nice day and I’ll say a big thanks to the team later on and then move on," he continues.

At the time-trial and the Alto do Malhão, Hart will not only test his form but also the consistency after nine months away from competition. It is an important step ahead of the spring but also the Tour de France which he will aim towards this summer. “We are super happy. Yesterday we were super happy because there were a lot of boxes to tick."

"It was his first time back in the bunch, riders were nervous with the wind and rain. There were crashes and he avoided it all. That was good for confidence. The team did a super job yesterday to keep him up there and the same today. He’s in seventh, and that’s a nice result. It’s his first race since his crash in the Giro and we’re super happy with how he’s performing in the Giro. It looks good and he’s on a good way."