The 27-year-old delivered our team’s 11th Grand Tour top-three of the season.
Ethan Hayter produced a fantastic display on the streets of Monaco to finish runner-up for the smallest of margins on the opening day of La Vuelta, just nine hundredths of a second separating him from what would have been his maiden Grand Tour stage win.
The last Soudal Quick-Step rider to roll down the ramp Saturday evening, Ethan rode one of the best time trials of his career to move into the hot seat, and for a couple of minutes, it looked like he would take the victory. The first rider to go below eleven minutes on this technical and undulating 9.4km course, the reigning British Champion of the discipline stopped the clock in 10:57, after averaging 51.48km/h, but was dethroned in the last moments of the stage by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).
I’m content with being on the podium, but at the same time, disappointed with the outcome.
“Obviously, it’s been a bit difficult and it was a really hard course - really fast, narrow and technical - so I was quite nervous beforehand. The corners were important, but also keeping a good position and maintaining a good speed. It was a really tough effort, but I feel like I gave everything I had. I’m happy to have started the race with a podium and such good shape”, explained Ethan, who on Sunday will wear the points jersey, after his second career top three in a Grand Tour stage.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
©Wout Beel
