Vuelta Ciclista a España (19th stage) - Hugo Hofstetter 8th
Hugo Hosfetter takes 8th place in the sprint in Iscar
Photo GettyImages
On the line
“I’m happy to have avoided the crash, after it was on a line, then I found myself locked in. After that I waited, but that’s the way the game is. There’s one stage left for the sprinters, in Madrid, and I’m going to give it my all once again. But before that there’s still a good mountain stage – the last on this Vuelta Ciclista a España – to negotiate”.
“Another good day’s cycling! I wanted to be at the front of this Vuelta Ciclista a España, I’d talked about it with Sébastien Hinault, and I was able to do that today with some good riders. It was a nice day. We’re into our third week, which shows that I’m recovering well. These efforts will help me later on, that’s for sure”.
The debrief’
“Mathis already wanted to be in the breakaway yesterday, and today he raised his hand again to go for it. He put his desire into action. We thought that this stage would be a good one for the frontrunners, like the one on the last Tour de France in Bourg-en-Bresse. There were four good rouleurs up front, but that wasn’t enough as the peloton immediately took control. But it was a great experience for Matîs. Hugo came 8th in the sprint. I think he must have put his foot down when it fell in front of him. That effort probably cost him a bit in the final. But unlike the other stages where sprinters were the main attraction, he was able to express himself in this Vuelta Ciclista a España. We’re expecting even better from him, and that bodes well for Sunday”.