“Participating in the Tour of Catalonia allowed me to produce the necessary intense efforts to be in good shape for this Tour of the Basque Country. It’s a region I appreciate a lot, thanks to the hilly terrain and the magnificent landscapes. This year, there are many top competitors, so we had to show ingenuity if we wanted to obtain good results. That's why I attacked two days in a row. I had a good feeling throughout the day and I felt ready to fight for the stage victory when we realized that the peloton gave us a considerable margin. But in the end, the peloton couldn't defend its chances as a consequence of the big crash. My thoughts go out to all riders involved and I wish them a speedy recovery. For the next few days, wearing the mountain jersey is additional motivation to continue showing myself."
