Romain Bardet Finishes 9th on Final Mountain Stage at Vuelta a España
Team dsm-firmenich rider Romain Bardet battled to a ninth-place finish on the final mountain stage of the Vuelta a España. The stage saw a large breakaway go clear after a fierce start, and despite some challenging climbs, Bardet managed to maintain his position in the chasing group to secure another top-ten result for the team.
The 207-kilometer stage featured over 4000 meters of altitude gain, making for a demanding day of racing. Bardet’s team, Team dsm-firmenich, covered multiple moves in the early part of the race before Bardet finally made it into the group of 31 riders that broke away.
As the peloton lost pace, it became clear that the breakaway would determine the outcome of the stage. Despite several attacks on the climbs, Bardet and the other riders in the breakaway were unable to create significant separation. As the race progressed, riders dropped out from the group, leaving around 20 riders, including Bardet, to tackle the final climb.
On the steep ramps of the last climb, Bardet gave his all but missed the split over the top, where the gap quickly widened. He finished in the chasing group and sprinted for ninth place, securing another strong result for his team at the Vuelta a España.
Reflecting on the race, Bardet said, “It was a really hard day. It was also not easy to manage with such a big break in the front. I came a bit short on the last climb in the end. On the top of the climb, I missed a few seconds to make the front group and wasn’t able to come back. After such a hard day on the bike, the result is a bit disappointing, but I also gave it my best shot and didn’t hold anything back.”
Team dsm-firmenich coach Phil West praised the team’s efforts, saying, “We had the plan to be in the main move… It was a fight to the line and another top ten, which is good, and a nice team effort once again.”
Bardet’s strong performance on the final mountain stage adds to his impressive results throughout the Vuelta a España, showcasing his climbing abilities and resilience in challenging race conditions.
