The 21-year-old climber was therefore not really focused on trying to win the overall classification. “The goal is to ride as well as possible and get the best possible result, whether that’s with the jersey, a podium place, a top five or a top ten. I think I can already be more than happy with how I’ve ridden this week. This jersey already feels like a victory to me. I have nothing to lose.”
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Tuckwell: “Maxim Van Gils saved me”
Tuckwell has only just turned professional. Last year, he finished second in the Giro Next Gen, where he was also ridden out of the leader’s jersey on the final stage. But in the pro ranks, he had already finished sixth in the Tour de Romandie in May. “I don’t think I realize it yet. I need some time to let it sink in. It’s crazy. As a neo-pro, I could never have expected this.”
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Tuckwell: “I keep improving without doing anything special”
So what is the secret behind the young Australian? Despite his strong performances at under-23 level, he still seems to have come from almost nowhere. “I keep improving without doing anything special,” he explained. “I enjoy my time at home, and I haven’t done any altitude camps. Just being at home in a good mental state has made the difference.”
That mental state undoubtedly helped him in his fight on the Plateau de Solaison. Tuckwell himself thought he would lose far more ground. “I knew I had a minute on Ayuso and forty seconds on Jorgenson. I wasn’t too worried about the lead, because I knew Isaac was so strong. To lose only one place is unbelievable.”
Bavin-Hobbs – [email protected]