Tour de Hongrie closes with fast downtown sprint in central Budapest

Head sports director Massimo Podenzana:

“We had our fair share of misfortune this week. Crashes took out Mehdi and Andrea, sickness meant Charles couldn’t finish the race and we ended up with three guys on the start line for today’s last stage in Budapest.”

“It was always going to end in a sprint finish, 92 flat kilometers in and around Budapest and the overall was decided yesterday, so our only objective today was to try and get someone in the breakaway to show our jersey and try something in the final.”

“The breakaway went straight out of the start and we missed the move, all we could do from there was try to help Peter to a high finish. We placed in the bunch, behind the sprinters and now we need to recover for the Tours of Mirabelle and Estonia at the end of the month.”

Sam Brand:

“I came into the race not feeling 100%, I had some stomach problems, but gradually started to feel better each day, more like myself and able to do something to help the team. Today we really wanted to try and get in the breakaway and show ourselves at the front of the race.”

“The move went super early, four guys led by Astana and we weren’t there. We were surprised a little by how quickly it went, and the situation didn’t really change until the final lap when it really ramped up for the sprint.”

“We did the best we could without a sprinter today and both David and Peter were flying with the group at the end, but we weren’t able to finish higher than in the middle of the pack. I’m looking ahead to Estonia now and some of the other guys to Mirabelle, it will be important to recover and regroup as we have goals we want to achieve.”