Tour de France: 'I just let out all the anger' – Pello Bilbao dedicates win to late team-mate Gino Mader
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Updated 11/07/2023 at 18:06 GMT
Gino Mader died in June after crashing into a ravine at the Tour of Switzerland. Less than one month later, his Bahrain Victorious team-mate Pello Bilbao claimed victory at the Tour de France before dedicating it to his late friend. Bilbao is raising money for an environmental cause that was close to Mader's heart at the Tour, while #rideforGino stickers are being displayed in the peloton.
'A special one' – Bilbao dedicates victory to late team-mate Mader
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) savoured a "special" win in memory of his late team-mate Giro Mader at the 2023 Tour de France on Tuesday.
Mader, a former stage winner at the Giro d'Italia, died following a crash on a descent at the Tour of Switzerland in June.
The peloton has been awash with #rideforGino stickers at the Tour, while Bilbao has promised to donate €1 to a reforestation charity – a cause close to Mader's heart – for each rider who finishes behind him on a stage, with his donation doubled for stage victories.
Bilbao got in the breakaway on Stage 10 before playing the finale to perfection to take victory and surge into the top five in the general classification. He was in a chase group that reeled in lone escapee Krists Neilands (Israel–Premier Tech) with 3km remaining on the run to Issoire, before following an attack from Georg Zimmermann (Intermarche–Circus–Wanty) and landing a triumphant sprint.
"I crossed the line and I just let out all the anger I had inside and remembered the reason of this victory [points to Mader sticker on jersey]. A special one for Gino," said Bilbao.
Asked if he had his late friend's memory on his mind during the stage, and across the whole Tour, he continued: "It was the only reason. It was hard to prepare the last two weeks with him on the mind.
"But staying with the family at home and my kid Martina, she helped me a lot to just keep calm, be positive and put all my positive energy into trying to do something nice in the Tour.
"I wanted to do it in the first two stages, it was so special to me [racing in Bilbao]. It wasn't possible but I just waited for my moment.
"I was thinking maybe my position in the overall was going to be a problem but I decided to make an all-in movement and in the end it was the right movement.
"First victory in the Tour after 13 years as a professional, it's such a special moment for me."
Bilbao climbed from 11th to fifth in the general classification with victory and is now 4'34" off Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) in the yellow jersey.
Meanwhile, his donations stand at €1,307 and counting.
'You're just stunned and in disbelief' – Lloyd on impact of Mader death
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'You're just stunned and in disbelief' – Lloyd on impact of Mader death
On The Breakaway, Dan Lloyd opened up about how Mader's death had hit him and said he hoped Bahrain Victorious "can celebrate Gino Mader" after Bilbao's win.
"When you follow cycling throughout the whole year intently, it does feel like when a tragic incident happens the sport should almost stop for some time," said Lloyd.
"But it has to go on, and life has to go on. So the best way they can make tribute to their team-mate is by doing what Bilbao's done for his charity, but also winning stages like today.
"It's very difficult to imagine what those guys are going through. I mean, it hit me really hard when I heard the news. I'd had a couple of chats and text messages to Gino Mader, but I had never met him.
"You're just stunned and in disbelief. So for someone who never met him to feel like that, you can't get a sense of how much it must hit his team-mates.
"They would have had him in their thoughts for the whole race and to be able to dedicate a victory like that to him… plus now he [Bilbao] has finished in front of everybody at the Tour de France, meaning the maximum donation to Gino Mader's charity.
"They all deserve it and I hope they can celebrate Gino Mader tonight."
He added: "I just can't imagine what the atmosphere around that dinner table is going to be like this evening.
"It's a win for Pello Bilbao, but more than ever that is going to be a win for everyone on that team – the staff, the riders. They'll be just joyous I hope tonight."
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