Maxim Van Gils proved on the second stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia that he is on the right way. At the same time, it figured out that after his crash at the Etoile de Bessèges just ten days ago he still lacks the final percentages.
In sixth place, the 25-year-old led the first chasing group to the finish, little more than minute behind the leading group. The Belgian almost caught up with the leading group on the last big climb of the day and was only a few seconds behind them on the descent. On the flat, nothing could be done alone against five. Only when Giovanni Aleotti was able to catch up with other riders from behind and take over the pace work the gap shrink again.
“Today was actually a good day, we fought hard," DS Bernhard Eisel summed up. "Maxim was only 300 meters short of catching up at the top of the climb, which really wasn't much. Maybe we were also missing the seventh man a bit here. Maxim was a little disappointed at the finish, but he's doing well so far. And as he just said to me: ‘We've already won a stage, but today it wasn't quite enough’."
A stage win was the goal with which the team had traveled to the Ruta del Sol. “And a top 5 result with Maxim in the overall classification which we aimed for is by far not out of reach,” says DS Eisel. Van Gils is currently fourth and also wears the green jersey in the points classification. The profile will calm down a little on the next two stages. However, bonus seconds on the Golden Kilometer could also give them some special moments. "And there will also be a lot of action at the start of stage 5, even if it gets flat at the end. So we'll continue to be motivated here, maybe we can ride a bit more offensively."