Rui Costa: Reflects on Hard Work and Satisfaction of Stage Win
In a recent interview, Rui Costa expressed his delight at winning a stage of La Vuelta a España and highlighted the dedication and hard work behind his victory. The cyclist, who had experienced disappointment during the Tour, was grateful for the opportunity to compete in La Vuelta and seize the chance to claim a stage win.
“I believed in myself,” Costa stated. “The season started very well for me and now winning a stage of La Vuelta is very important for me and for the team. I’m very, very happy.”
Despite the setbacks faced during the Tour, Costa remained positive and determined. He explained, “I worked very hard to prepare for the Tour but things didn’t turn our way with the team, it was a bit sad. I still felt good legs so I asked the team to let me do La Vuelta a España to try and get a stage win, and now look…”
Costa emphasized that winning a race is not just about the final result but also encompasses the unseen dedication and effort put in behind the scenes. He said, “It’s not easy. It’s not just about winning today, it’s a lot of dedication, a lot of work that people don’t see. This is very satisfactory for me.”
Reflecting on the race itself, Costa discussed the challenges faced on the final descent, where crashes occurred. He explained, “[Crashes like Kämna’s in the final] are things that happen in races. We had already done that downhill once and I saw that he was going very fast so I broke because I knew that if we followed his pace, we would crash. It’s a shame for him and then it was just about playing for the stage win. It went my way and I’m very happy.”
Overall, Rui Costa’s stage win at La Vuelta a España not only brought him personal satisfaction but also served as a testament to his perseverance and determination in the face of challenges.
