After a great performance on Saturday’s queen stage of the race, Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA) seemed sure to make the overall podium in this year’s Route du Sud. However, a late crash in the final kilometres of the last stage ruined the young Brit’s chances of success.
On an undulating course, the Caja Rural – Seguros RGA riders constantly kept Carthy safe in the peloton near the front. Unfortunately, as the pack started on the final climb, a rider caused Carthy to crash, which lost him nearly eight minutes to the stage winner Arnaud Démare (FDJ) who won the bunch sprint. Jonathan Lastra took 12th place as the team’s best rider on the stage.
Due to his crash, Carthy not only lost the overall podium but also a Top 10 result. Instead, Sergio Pardilla finished as the best Caja Rural – Seguros RGA rider in 5th place overall, while Ricardo Vilela was 6th, improving on his 8th place from last year. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) took the overall win.
Hugh Carthy: “It was a fairly calm stage. On the last couple of laps, there was a bit of a fight for positions but nothing too dramatic. My teammates put me in a good position before the final climb but as we started climbing, a rider from Direct Energie dragged me by my saddle, which caused me to collide with another rider and crash.”
“I didn’t suffer any serious injuries, I’m only battered, bruised and disappointed. However, overall, the race went very well for the team. We showed ourselves at the head of the race every day, racing respectfully and aggressively. It’s a shame it had to end like this today but that’s cycling. You have to take the good with the bad. Now, I’ll have a break for a week and then I’ll start to train again, focusing on the second part of the season”.
