Planet 17th on stage one at the Tour of Rhodes

Sport Director Gennady Mikhaylov:

“The crosswinds on the coast roads started to split the bunch quite early today and then the climbs totally separated the race. Charles and Sam Brand were positioned nicely and did a great job of staying in the front group.”

“It’s a shame that we didn’t have more guys up there to support Charles into the final, but Sam did very well and did as much as can be expected on such a fast, tough and windy course. He helped Charles with going back for bottles and tried to keep him as protected as possible. We look to tomorrow now and a new opportunity.”

Charles Planet:

“I don’t think I could’ve done more today, I felt good on the climbs, I was up there with the leaders all day, but there’s not much you can do when some of the other teams have four or five guys left going into the final and you get boxed out of it.”

“Lotto created some echelons going towards the finish and then we had the tailwind going into the final corner and I had to brake. I knew it was going to be a problem because I would lose momentum and a couple of paces, but I couldn’t do anything about it and was full gas in the sprint to stay up there.

“Sam did great today. He was fighting to be there throughout and made it back up to me after the climbs every time, really impressive. It was hard with the wind splitting things early, but we go again tomorrow and aim to do to better.”