Stefan Bissegger stormed previous his teammate Mark Padun within the dwelling straight of the Volta ao Algarve‘s concluding time trial, however then he stopped pedalling and coasted dwelling from round 100 metres out.
Sporting the European champion’s skinsuit, Bissegger had been one of many large pre-stage favourites in a Battle Royale of the world’s high time triallists, but it surely was clear his hopes of victory had lengthy evaporated.
After ending greater than 90 seconds down on one of the best time – nonetheless early within the race – Bissegger returned to the EF Training-EasyPost bus the place agitated conversations about tyres and rain commenced.
“We made the improper alternative with the tyres,” Bissegger advised Cyclingnews after his effort in Lagoa. “Now you see right here it is full dry, however you go 1k, on the course and it is full moist, like correct, correct moist. From 1-20 [kilometres] it was simply full moist.
“It was unusual, however we’re by the coast, so possibly that is why,” he added, though there have been patches of sunshine rain within the space shortly earlier than his begin time.”
The situations, Bissegger defined, turned the 24.4km course into an ice rink, no less than for somebody who’d chosen tyres – Vittoria’s Corsa Pace Graphene 2.0 – for the driest of situations.
“We made the improper determination with these tyres and you then slip rather a lot. With the tyres I had, you may have large grip, and when it is dry it is most likely the tyre with essentially the most grip and the least rolling resistance, even each on the identical time. However within the moist, I simply cannot deal with them within the moist.”
As such, Bissegger, who crashed twice within the Tour de France‘s sodden Copenhagen TT finally yr’s Tour de France, nursed his method by the early corners whereas saying goodbye to any hopes of a primary win of the season.
“I sprinted up each kicker however I performed it actually actually protected within the corners as a result of I knew it was already too late,” he stated.
“It is undoubtedly irritating. I felt fairly good however that is how it’s. Copenhagen was a giant purpose however this isn’t so large, so generally it’s good to be sensible and never take dangers. I did not crash right this moment so I am blissful about that.”
