Dario Cataldo: “The KOM is a little consolation price”

June 7 ^th 2018 - 16:57

“It wasn’t part of the plan to break away today. I remained quietly in the bunch for the whole first part of the race until it became a bit more nervous. The bunch split with GC contenders riding at the front. It was getting hard also for my team-mates who were looking at breaking away. Trying to help them in an acceleration, I found myself at the front almost without willing. Once I was up, I started thinking of the stage victory. The speed of our front group wasn’t high. Had we continued like that, for sure we’d be reabsorbed by the peloton. At half way into the climb, I rode at my own pace. Since no one came with me, I continued solo. I gave everything till the end but it wasn’t enough. With 15km to go, I’ve believed I could win. But just before the last climb, I took some head wind and the tarmac at that point me it very hard to ride. It slowed me down. I realized it’d be hard to maintain my lead up the hill. I fought as much as I could. The polka dot jersey is a little consolation price. I’m happy with it because the Dauphiné is a very important race. I’d like to keep it till the end of the race.”