Carlos Rodriguez climbed up to fifth place overall at the Tour de France after the Pyrenees, while Tom Pidcock now sits ninth overall.
Seventh place on the stage saw Rodriguez riding with some elite company, including the outgoing yellow jersey of Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe). The Spanish rider pushed on out of the chasing pack on the final climb of Cauterets-Cambasque, and now sits in the race’s top five, 3:30 back on Jonas Vingegaard.
“If you look at recent race form, then Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are head and shoulders above everyone else. The way they went up the climbs proves it. There now seems to be a race for the podium, like there was last year when we won that battle with Geraint Thomas.” Ineos Grenadiers team manager Rod Ellingworth said.
“We’ve been the dominant team and it’s a brilliant feeling and we want it again. But it’s a different cycling at the moment and we’re building for the future. I’m excited about our future. I also like the challenge and so we’ll keep pushing to become competitive with Pogačar and Vingegaard in the future.”
“We’ve had some great success in the Tour and we want some of it again. We’ve got to keep fighting. We don’t give up, we keep fighting.
“For the young guys like Carlos and Tom, it’s about suffering, learning and trying to progress. They can’t fail really because they learn something every day,” Ellingworth added.
“Tom will stay on GC and Carlos is right up there. The plan is that they push themselves and find their Grand Tour limits. I don’t think they have yet. We were confident of a top ten if they go for GC all race but it looks like it could be better.”
