Lotto Soudal’s Harry Sweeny Disappointed with Fifth Place Finish at La Vuelta

After a competitive final in stage seven of La Vuelta a España, Lotto Soudal rider Harry Sweeny expressed his disappointment with finishing in fifth place. Sweeny admitted, “A fifth place is pretty disappointing, but already soon in the race, I felt that I didn’t have the best legs.”

The stage included a challenging climb with over twenty kilometers in length, providing opportunities for both attackers and sprinters. Despite the efforts of several sprint teams, Sweeny and four other riders managed to maintain a three-minute advantage after reaching the summit of Puerto de San Glorio. As the race approached Cistierna, there was a fierce battle between the breakaway and the peloton, ultimately leading to a sprint finish for the stage win. Spanish rider Herrada emerged victorious, while Sweeny settled for fifth place.

Reflecting on the race, Sweeny shared, “I didn’t feel great, and I even doubted if I could survive the long climb. That is why I did a lot of turns on the front: that way I could ride my own pace. Fortunately, I could hang on, and afterwards, it was a big battle between us and the peloton. But we kept on working together really well, until the final kilometer or so when it became clear that the stage winner would be at the front.”

Despite starting the sprint in a good position, Sweeny acknowledged that his legs were not at their best. He said, “I started the sprint in a good position but pretty soon, I realized that I didn’t have the best of legs. I did everything I could today, but it still remains a big disappointment. With this type of finish and the good position I started the sprint in, a lot more could have been possible on a good day. But it is what it is. We keep on aiming for that stage victory with the whole team.”

Regarding future stages, Sweeny remains optimistic and determined to achieve a stage victory. The young Australian rider is keen to make the most of the team’s collective efforts.