Clément Champoussin: "No regrets
"It was a good stage. I did a lot of work at the beginning of the race to get into the breakaway. When we went out, I felt that I had already left a few cartridges. I managed to recover a little bit but on the last climb I missed some.
I tried to anticipate with one kilometer to go. I was hoping they would look at each other but they reacted quickly. There are no regrets, they were better than me.
I feel like I'm in good shape. I've been in the mix since the start of this Vuelta several breakaways. There are still some great opportunities ahead.
[su_quote cite=Bob Jungels]
Bob Jungels: "Beaten by stronger people
"This is the first time I've been in a breakaway in this Vuelta. I felt good, but I didn't have the legs to keep up with the best riders on the final climb.
When the beginning of the stage is flat, it's hard to know how it will feel in the end. Clément (Champoussin) was better than me but we were beaten by stronger riders.
It's a bit frustrating when you spend all day at the front and you don't win, but that's sport. I'm happy to be back in good shape."[/su_quote]
Key number: 8
After seventeen stages of the Vuelta Espana, Ben O'Connor is eighth in the overall standings.
News: AG2R CITROËN team wins the team classification
The AG2R CITROËN team wins the team classification on the seventeenth stage of the Vuelta Espana.
"It's been a satisfying day for the AG2R CITROËN team, even though the goal was to win. There are no regrets. Bob (Jungels) anticipated before the climb and Clément (Champoussin) did the same at the red flag, it could have worked. We came up against a stronger team.
Ben (O'Connor) had a great finish. He lost a few seconds to the main leaders but gained on Thymen Arensman, which is interesting.
Today was the first of four battles to be fought between now and Saturday, and it was quite successful. I hope the guys will put in the same intensity over the next few days to achieve our goals," said Julien Jurdie, sports director of the AG2R CITROËN team.
