[ad_1]
The Portuguese cyclist (Deceuninck-QuickStep) said on Tuesday that “sometimes the best defense is attack”, after a 16th stage of the Tour of Italy in which he reinforced the overall lead.
An attack in the final part, in a day won by the Slovenian Jan Tratnik (Bahrain-McLaren), allowed him to gain two seconds from the rivals in the fight for the final victory, and although it was not planned, he revealed at the end that he thought that “it was the best”. defensive tactic. “
“I don’t think those seconds make a difference. Defensively, it was the best option. I tend to be good at these explosive finishes, I had good legs and I felt good,” he shot.
In the fight for the general classification, the Portuguese will go for 14 days with the pink jersey on the body, ahead of two Sunweb men as closest pursuers, the Dutch Wilco Kelderman, second to 17, and the Australian Jai Hindley, in third to 2.58. minutes.
This leadership, which has a parallel in the Belgian national team, with that of the French Julian Alaphilippe in the 2019 Tour de France, and an unusual time of leadership, in what is still described as “a dream come true”.
He wants to keep the pink jersey as long as possible and faces, on Wednesday, a “very difficult” day, in the high mountains with a high finish, but he hopes to “have good legs” to beat the candidates, or at least one. in particular.
“I’m worried about Kelderman, because for others I have a good margin,” he said.
Almeida also commented on the positive test for the new coronavirus by Colombian Fernando Gaviria (United Arab Emirates), after the sprinter already contracted covid-19 in March, having left the Giro.
“It’s very, very unfortunate, and it will be the second time soon. I wish you all the best and have a good time,” said the 22-year-old.
The “concern” about possible infections was another issue that was raised after the second and last day of rest, with the natural cyclist from A-Dos-Francos (Caldas da Rainha) stating that the entire team has tried to “protect themselves” and to not to lose the ‘corsa rosa’ “when it is well, then there is a positive test and it must be abandoned”.
On Wednesday, the 17th of 21 stages joins Bassano del Grappa with Madonna di Campiglio over 203 kilometers, with three top mountain counts, the last of which coincides with the goal.
“We will see how far I can go. I am confident and hope for the best, but prepared for the worst,” he said.
[ad_2]
