In the end we had no choice but to declare the stage void.
Everyone but GC Denis and myself was (very) late to the start of the ride.
Everyone but JFW and myself refused to ride down to sea level to do a proper sea level to Teide climb.
GC Denis decided to attack his own team when we were all working for him.
TY took another shortcut. This is becoming so common that his name is now “Shortcut” TY.
The Pope decided to do hill reps up Teide.
JFW jumped on the wheel of a FDJ pro-rider. All the respect he won by riding the whole Teide in the big chainring lost in the less than 30 seconds he managed to hold his wheel.
The weather didn’t play ball either. Very windy in the descent and reports of higher temperatures in London made us wonder what we were doing here.
The Pope broke the group discipline not following the great pace I was setting with the aim of making the last climb enjoyable for everyone.
GC Denis took a town sign sprint. I don’t want to remember which town. All I want to remember is that he attacked when I was taking one for the team and doing, for a second time in the day, a great work at setting the pace for him and The Pope.
The Pope didn’t allow me to take the final KOM. That was particularly malevolent after sitting on his wheel the 10km of the climb, listening to all the noises his bike was producing and the magnificent attack I launched. Yes, it was a bit too early, but the noise was getting in my brain.
I must report the occurrence of a few cramps but I won’t name names (Javier wasn’t one of them though) to protect the privacy of those involved. The one I witnessed looked painful.
With less misbehaviours race organizers cancel stages nowadays. So the only option was to forget about sprint and KOM winners (I didn’t get any of either) and focus on the great day we had.
Tomorrow’s stage will be great though. I'm sure at the very least we will start riding on time.
The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14089037818
Take care of yourself
Javier Arias González
