Spaniard Carlos Rodríguez is one stage away from a career-defining second – profitable his first WorldTour stage race on the Tour de Romandie.
The Ineos rider leapt away from a choose group that had jettisoned in a single day chief Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) within the closing kilometre and, whereas he couldn’t catch stage winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), he left a few of biking’s finest climbers in his wake.
With Ayuso distanced, Rodríguez completed third on the stage behind Carapaz and Bora-Hansgrohe’s breakout star Florian Lipowitz, gaining sufficient time to take the Tour de Romandie lead by seven seconds over Bora’s Aleksandr Vlasov.
“I’m actually blissful and tremendous pleased with the workforce and all of the dedication all through the stage,” Rodríguez mentioned after the conclusion of the queen stage to Leysin.
“We did not know the way issues would end up. But they’ve belief in me so I’m actually blissful for his or her perception that I may ship in the long run a very good end result. It’s not completed but. We need to combat nonetheless tomorrow, however I’ll give all the pieces to attempt to get this jersey.”
Rodríguez signed with Ineos on the age of 19 and is now in his fifth season with the workforce. He has made regular progress in stage races, ending seventh on the Vuelta a España in his Grand Tour debut in 2022 and taking fifth general finally 12 months’s Tour de France.
He’s gained a stage within the Tour de France and phases of the Itzulia Basque Country and Tour of Britain however his finest general end in a WorldTour stage race was second on this 12 months’s Itzulia Basque Country, profitable the ultimate stage to Eibar alongside the way in which.
Getting his first common classification victory, he says, can be “wonderful”, however there’s one a lot flatter stage to go, a 150.8km circuit in Vernier, to get by.
“I’ve gained some races however nonetheless not a GC and to win a WorldTour stage race. It’s what I can not say but, however it could be wonderful and I’m actually essential for me to attain it.
“We need to be prepared. We do not know what can occur, so we won’t loosen up but. We will do tomorrow after the stage and hopefully we are able to we are able to rejoice.”
This summer time, Rodríguez will head up the Ineos Grenadiers choice alongside Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas on the Tour de France with a podium spot possible inside his sights. A giant win in Romandie would solely cement his fame as one of many high favourites.