Giro d'Italia 2021 - Team DSM's Romain Bardet: "I had nothing to lose" as I missed out on stage win
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Published 30/05/2021 at 08:03 GMT
French rider Romain Bardet has had an impressive debut Giro d'Italia in 2021 but while he currently holds fifth place in the General Classification, he came close to sealing a stage win on Saturday, only to see race leader Egan Bernal and stage winner Damiano Caruso pass him towards the closing stages, and he was disappointed to miss out.
Romain Bardet
Image credit: Getty Images
Romain Bardet (Team DSM) was disappointed to lose the chance of a stage win at the Giro d’Italia on Saturday, even if his showing had moved him up the general classification.
The Frenchman is something of a climb specialist, but was unable to hold off challenges from Bahrain Victorious’ Damiano Caruso, and Team Ineos pair Egan Bernal - the overall race leader - and Daniel Martinez. Caruso emerged as the stage winner.
Martinez may challenge Bardet for his fifth place, as the Colombian is just eight seconds behind him. While the 30-year-old has impressed in his debut Giro showing, he was more concerned by his failure to win the stage.
After the race, he said: “I started the day thinking I had nothing to lose, I was sixth overall and not a threat for the overall lead, and I haven’t been so active in the Giro, so it was good to get on the front and push on.
“I really have to thank my team-mates for doing such a super race today. I’d really thought about going for the stage win, so I’m very disappointed.”
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Bardet also has a second place finish in stage 16 to his name, but Saturday appeared to suit his talents better than anything than had come before.
“The team were really motivated this morning and we gave it our all so there’s no regrets,” he said.
I gave it everything, and I’ve gone up a place on GC.
“But having Bahrain on the front with us was both an advantage and a problem, and I was very close, so that’s a little bit infuriating too.”
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