Tour de la Mirabelle

Charles Planet (FRA)

“This Tour de Mirabelle started with a short, very fast prologue. I was one of the last ones to go, and I gave everything I had. The result was not the one I expected, but in fairness we were all very close to each other, which gives me confidence for tomorrow stage.”

“It is very exciting to be here, I had so many emotions today! Firstly, the excitement of racing at home, for the first time in eight years as professional cyclist. Plus my entire family and my girlfriend are here to support and cheer for me and for the team. It’s an extra motivation to push harder and show what we are capable of.”

Hamish Beadle (NZL)

“Today I felt like being the new kid at school again. But it’s such a good feeling to be back in the mix!
The course suited me quite well: it was short, technical and punchy. I really enjoyed it.”

“It’s unreal being back with the guys and the team. It’s going to be a good week.”

Photo Credit: Rene’ Vigneron; Alice Podenzana

Sports Director, Massimo Podenzana (ITA)

“Today we had 159 km on the menu. We knew that the final part of the race was the hardest and the team needed to focus on that. The guys sticked to the plan. David did well, he was well positioned in the end until the final climb. The pace increased in the final kilometres and he didn’t have that extra gear to stick with the first group.”

“We could have done better today, but now we look ahead to tomorrow. It will be a tougher stage, a good one for climbers.”

David Lozano (ESP)

“It was a challenging stage here at Tour de la Mirabelle. We followed the strategy, with some guys controlling at the start for the breakaways while Peter, Charles and me had to save energy for the final.”

“I was in the first group on top of the last climb. In the final kilometres the pace was really high and I couldn’t make it with the first ones. It’s a pity I couldn’t finish in a good position. The legs are good though and I want to focus on tomorrow.”

Peter Kusztor (HUN)

“We knew we had to try to get in the breakaway tidy and show ourselves, but also try to make something happen and that’s what I did.”

“It was a hard stage, but the collaboration was quite good in the group and we managed to stay away for a long time, but the GC teams were working to bring us back and it became clear we wouldn’t make it to the line.”

“Nevertheless, it was good to get up the road and push for a positive result from the front of the race.”

Photo Credit: Rene’ Vigneron

Sports Director, Massimo Podenzana

“The last stage of the Tour de la Mirabelle was a long and nervous one. Very windy, with short climbs all the way from start to finish. It was a good stage for Planet, who also knows these roads very well.”

“The team did a good job in keeping Planet up front. Both him and Kusztor were well positioned in the final lap, but it was a big group battling for the final sprint and Planet lost a few positions crossing the line in 17th.”

Charles Planet (FRA)

“I haven’t felt too good in the past day, but I knew today stage suited me well. Plus racing so close to my home and have my family here gave me the extra gear I needed to push more.”

“I have been on the front all the way. The team did a great job, especially Peter (Kusztor) who has been with me the whole way helping me to stay up front in the peloton. The last sprint was very chaotic.”

“I really wanted a top 10. I gave my best and had to go for the 17th place. It’s a bit disappointing but I want to focus on the positive and look ahead. I felt better than the previous couple of days and I am now looking forward to the upcoming races in Belgium.”

Photo Credit: Rene’ Vigneron