“Last year it was one of the most intense emotions I have ever experienced” – Stage win priority for Pello Bilbao; but Basque wants to improve the Tour de France rankings

Focusing on the Tour this year, it is clear that Bilbao wanted to repeat last year’s success or perhaps even improve on it if possible – although that will be a difficult task considering how strong the GC field is. But the veteran is a Grand Tour specialist and a very versatile rider, who loves the third week of Grand Tours and will experience one of the toughest Tour finals ever.

“Overall I would say the route is quite complete with two long time trials, which I am really looking forward to, especially as I have worked very hard for improvements in the TT this year, and I want to see if the results are coming,” he continues. “Then this year we have the gravel sector, which will also be a decisive stage for the general classification. The difficulties are quite spread over the three weeks from the start and you have to be 100% for it from the start. That’s possible. I’m going not starting the Tour and expecting to grow in the race. It will be crucial to be ready.”

This year Bilbao finished third in the UAE Tour and sixth in Itzulia Basque Country, with a pair of Top10 results in the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He had a different warm-up for the Tour compared to all his rivals, at the Tour of Slovenia, where he won the queen stage and finished second overall. Although he dreams of a good GC result, it is clear from his words that winning another stage is at the top of the priority list for this year.

My ambitions will of course be to win another stage. Last year it was one of the most intense emotions I have ever experienced in my cycling career, and I would like to repeat it; There is nothing comparable to winning a stage in the Tour de France,” he says.

“In the meantime, I will also concentrate on the rankings and I want to drive my best possible race. It’s going to be a very interesting Tour with all the major contenders here, and it will also be interesting to see who comes out on top between Tadej and Jonas this year, especially after Tadej’s strong showing at the Giro. Overall, we have a very strong team here and every day will be an opportunity for us.

=https://twitter.com/BHRVictorious/status/1804823278508241157″ data-service=”twitter”>