Teamwork saves Planet on stage two in Slovakia

Race: Okolo Slovenska 

Start/Finish: Zilina to Banska Bystrica

Distance: 206.6km

Charles Planet

“The team did an absolutely amazing job today, it was a super hard stage and the race split early on the climbs. All our guys worked hard to bring the race back together and that was the difference between me getting a chance in the finish and being nowhere near.”

“There were ten categorized climbs over 206 kilometers and the finish was uphill into the town center and was really hard after a long day. I went so deep in the sprint, I’m completely empty now.

“On a stage like this you can see and feel when the guys around you are getting tired and everyone was on the limit as we went the final. A few years ago, that would have played with my head and that becomes another battle, not only your body, but your head also. We have come a long way in the last few years and getting a top ten on a stage like today proves that.”

Massimo Podenzana

“We were asleep at the beginning of the stage, there’s no other way to put it. The WorldTour teams went hard from the start and a big group of around 40 riders broke away and we weren’t in there.”

“That’s why we had to work so hard to bring the race back together. The guys did very well from that point, they worked hard, got back in contact and gave Charles and Peter Kusztor the chance to finish with the leaders and in Charles’ case, to contest the sprint.

“Placing in the top ten is a satisfying result after the work we put in today, it’s going to be another hard day tomorrow, but shorter than today and less climbs.”

Next Up:

Stage 3 of Okolo Slovenska takes place tomorrow and will cover 181.3 kilometers from Banska Bystrica to Ziar nad Hronom.