Max Poole and Romain Bardet Showcase Grit in Attacking La Vuelta Stage
Team dsm-firmenich displayed their tenacity in the breakaway of the 16th stage of La Vuelta, with Max Poole and Romain Bardet showing their strength during the race.
The stage began after a rest day, with the peloton starting from Liencres Playa for a mostly flat parcours. However, a challenging climb awaited them in the finale.
The race kicked off with numerous attacks in the peloton, and Team dsm-firmenich made sure they were part of any dangerous moves. After nearly 10 kilometers of action, a group of around ten riders managed to break away, with Bardet and Poole making their presence felt. Despite their efforts, the gap stayed between 15 and 40 seconds as other teams chased them down.
After being caught and brought back, Bardet attempted another breakaway, eventually linking up with Poole. However, their lead was closely monitored by the GC teams, never extending beyond one-and-a-half minutes over the peloton.
Although Poole rode strongly throughout the stage, the breakaway’s advantage slowly decreased, and they were caught within the final ten kilometers. Poole, along with the rest of the team, faced the challenging gradients before safely crossing the finish line.
Reflecting on the day, Poole said, “It was a pretty hard day. Romain and I made it into the early front group, which got a good gap. Unfortunately, some teams behind didn’t let us go and closed the gap. Despite not getting a result, I think it was a good effort and a strong display of teamwork as we enter the final week.”
Team dsm-firmenich coach Phil West praised the team’s aggressive approach, saying, “We set out for an aggressive race and to be in the breakaway with numbers. As a team, we did a really good job today, but as the fight went on longer, it opened an opportunity for the GC teams to control and also go for the stage. In the end, we conserved energy and look forward to another fight tomorrow. Although there was no result today, I’m really happy with the level of teamwork we have here and look forward to the coming stages.”
