NEWS

ANTONIO PIEDRA: I WILL STRUGGLE TO REALIZE

Sun, 02.09.2012 22:07

How do you feel after such a triumph?

I’ll struggle to realize. It’s a great joy but I can’t believe it’s true. I’m not completely conscious. It took us a lot of time to increase the gap in favour of our breakaway. I think a crash helped us to do so. Once we made a difference of fifteen minutes over the peloton, it became clear that the stage win would be between us in the breakaway.

How have you launched your attack?

David [De la Fuente] and I, we both felt good. We were confident that we could cap it off. I’ve asked to wait and see how people were going to move in order to realize who was nervous and who still had some energy to spend. When the breakaway group got reunited, I’ve tried my luck. I’ve managed to get a gap because David has been sensational in covering all the counter attacks. He marked all the other breakaway riders. He was following all the accelerations. He’s been incredible.

When have you had the victory in sight?

It was complicated. I was a little bit afraid of la Huesera [the steepest part of the ascent to the Lagos de Covadonga]. I feared that other riders could catch me there but in reality, my lead kept growing, so I’ve understood that I was making it for real.

Who do you dedicate this to?

To my family, Francis Cabello [team manager of Andalucia who discovered him] and everyone who has supported me and believed in me. I’m sure they’re happy with my win. Now I want to enjoy what I’ve achieved and take time to think about my future as a cyclist. I yet have to complete my study as well. I’ve done four and half years out of five in industria engineering.

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